Manchester City have completed the signing of attacking midfielder Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City, the clubs announced on Tuesday. Mahrez, 27, moved for a fee reported to be in the region of £60 million — a club record for Man City — after undergoing a medical. City have long been in pursuit of Mahrez. The 2016 PFA Player of the Year tried to force the move in January, only to briefly go on strike after Leicester refused to sanction his sale.
But he has now become the Premier League champions’ first summer signing since winning the title after knuckling down and biding his time to earn his dream move.
The Algeria international, one of Leicester’s title-winning heroes from the 2015-16 season, handed in a transfer request in January and had a 10-day absence from the club before returning to training with them on Feb. 9. “Riyad is a hugely talented player. He beats defenders and creates space,” City director of football Txiki Begiristain said. “Over the past few years, he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players.”