Man City sign Mahrez from Leicester

After seeing a bid for him rejected in January, Premier League champions have made the 27-year-old their first big signing of the summer

Manchester City have completed the signing of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester for £60 million (€68m/$80m).

The 27-year-old winger joins the Premier League champions on a five-year deal after the two sides reached an agreement.

“I am so pleased to have joined City, a side playing great football under Pep Guardiola,” Mahrez told the club’s website.

“Watching them from afar has been a pleasure. Pep is committed to playing attacking football, which is a perfect for me, and City’s performances last season were outstanding. They’re redefining the English game and I wanted to be a part of it.

“I think we can be successful over the coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep’s management.”

The news brings an end to a deal that had long been in the making. Mahrez had come close to joining City when they made an offer for him on the final day of the transfer window in January, while he submitted a transfer request to the Foxes.

Although Leicester rejected the bid and City backed out, Pep Guardiola suggested afterwards that they would return for him in the summer.

And Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, says he is delighted to have finally captured one of the best players in the English top flight.

“Riyad is a hugely talented player. He beats defenders and creates space,” he said. “Over the past few years, he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players.

“We’re sure he will bring additional attacking quality to our squad.”

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Mahrez joined Leicester from Le Havre in January 2014 and helped them to a first place finish in the Championship.

Two years later, he was named PFA Player of the Year after scoring 17 goals and setting up a further 10 as they won the Premier League title.

He netted four and got two assists in the Champions League the following season as his side made it to the quarter-finals.