Manchester City have signed defender Eliaquim Mangala from Porto for a fee understood to be about £32m.
The 23-year-old Frenchman came close to joining City in January and was inadvertently pictured in a ‘signing’ video on the club’s website last month.
Mangala has signed a five-year deal.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “He has all of the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders.”
He added: “Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball.
“I think he will prove to be a great signing for us.”
Mangala was in France’s 2014 World Cup squad but did not play in any games.
“City is a top club in Europe,” he told the City website.
“For me, it was an important step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my progress.
“I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am ambitious and this is why I am here.”
He has become City’s sixth summer signing and their second from Porto, after Brazilian midfielder Fernando joined for about £12m.
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard joined on loan from New York City FC, while fellow midfielder Bruno Zuculini was signed from Argentine side Racing Club.
Goalkeeper Willy Caballero moved from Malaga for £4.4m while former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna was signed on a free transfer.
Mangala began his career with Standard Liege in 2008, winning the league in his first season, before joining Porto in 2011.
He won two Portuguese titles and made his France debut in a 1-0 defeat by Uruguay in June 2013.
Mangala added: “The fact that Fernando is here is better because I played with him at Porto but there is also other players that I know like Sagna, [Gael] Clichy and [Samir] Nasri.”
BBC SPORT
