London: Monaco full-back Benjamin Mendy yesterday signed a mega five-year contract with Manchester City making him the world’s most expensive defender.
The 23-year-old, who joined the French champions from Marseille last summer, has agreed a deal reported to be worth a record £52 million ($67 million) for a defender.
The France player will link up with his new teammates in the US where Pep Guardiola’s side are preparing for their second pre-season tour game against Real Madrid in Los Angeles.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City,” Mendy said. “They are one of Europe’s leading clubs and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager committed to playing attacking football. I am sure that over the next few years we will be successful.”
Backline
Tottenham’s Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Ederson are the other players to join a new-look City backline with Mendy’s Monaco team-mate Bernardo Silva coming in to bolster midfield.
Guardiola was desperate to add Mendy to his full-back options after releasing Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta this summer, but City’s original £44.5 million ($55.7 million) offer was rejected.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss had already lured England right-back Walker to the Etihad Stadium in a deal which could be worth up to £54 million ($70.1 million) and Monaco wanted a similar amount for Mendy.
The deal took a while to complete, but City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, was pleased to have secured their first-choice target.