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It is official: Manchester City have a new goalkeeper.
Claudio Bravo has joined Manchester City from Barcelona on a permanent transfer. After weeks of negotiations, the two clubs finally agreed on a reported £17 million transfer, and Bravo has signed a four-year contract with the Citizens.
The Chilean keeper is a two-time La Liga winner with Barça, having won the Zamora Trophy as the best goalkeeper in the Spanish League in 2015. Bravo has also won back-to-back Copa América titles with the Chilean national team, and the 33-year-old brings experience and leadership to the City defense.
Bravo commented on signing for City:
“I’m very proud to be joining Manchester City. I know the Club is building something very special and I hope I can be part of many successes in the coming years.
“I have followed City’s progress in recent years and obviously know some of my new team-mates from the Copa America.
“It is not easy to leave a club like Barcelona where I had two fantastic years, but the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola was too good to refuse.
“Now I will challenge the other great goalkeepers the Club has and together I hope we can win many trophies.”
Manager Pep Guardiola, who requested Bravo's signing, also spoke to the City website about the deal:
“Claudio is a fantastic goalkeeper and an excellent addition to our squad.
“He has experience and great leadership qualities and is in the prime of his life. He is a goalkeeper I have admired for a number of years and I’m really happy he is now a City player.”
Source: ManCity.com
Bravo's arrival could signal the end of Joe Hart's tenure with the club after 10 years of services. The England No. 1 is yet to find a new club, but with a week left in the transfer window, there is still time for his move to happen. Even though Hart is leaving, City have now got a world-class keeper.
Welcome, Claudio!