OFFICIAL: Manchester City Completes The Signing Of Nathan Ake From Bournemouth.

Manchester City have completed the signing of defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £40million plus add-ons as part of the deal.

 

The Dutch international signed a five-year contract, which will keep him at City until June 2025.

Despite been linked with a move to join his former club Chelsea, Ake becomes Pep Guardiola's second summer signing following the £21m arrival of Valencia winger Ferran Torres, 20, on Tuesday as reported by CloudNine Sports.

The 25-year-old says he is delighted to have joined City, a Club he feels offers him everything he needs to win trophies and have a successful career.

“City have been the best side in England over the course of the last decade,” he told the club's official website.

“Coming here is a dream for me. This is a top side full of world-class players. Everywhere you look in this squad there are big names with international pedigree.

“Pep is a manager admired across the world – what he’s done in the game speaks for itself. The success he’s had is unbelievable and the style of football he plays really appeals to me.

“I know I’m going to have to work hard to get into the side, but that’s what I’m here to do. I’ll do whatever I can to make an impact and help the team win silverware.”

Ake’s footballing journey began at VV Wilhelmus at the age of six, but he moved to ADO Den Haag after two years, before signing for Feyenoord at the age of 12.

He was spotted by Chelsea after scoring against them in the final of the Willem II youth tournament and was invited to London where he met Didier Drogba, who encouraged him to sign for the club. He joined at 16 in 2011.

However, his chances at Chelsea were limited and he went in search of regular first-team football. He spent a month on loan at Championship side Reading in 2015, making five appearances, before spending the 2015/16 season on loan at Watford, making 28 appearances for the Premier League side.

Bournemouth offered him a six-month loan the following campaign. He played 12 times and scored three goals for the Cherries and looked increasingly comfortable at the top level. He returned to Chelsea for the second half of the campaign and made five appearances.

Bournemouth made the move permanent in June 2017, signing Ake for £20 million. He became an essential player for the Cherries, as he made 121 appearances and scoring eleven goals across all competitions.

He has since won 13 senior caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring two goals, since his debut in May 2017.