RAHEEM Sterling yesterday completed his big-money move to Manchester City from Liverpool.
The 20-year-old, who will wear the number seven shirt at the Etihad, has become the club’s record signing and the most expensive English footballer in history after sealing a move which will eventually be worth up to £49m.
A statement released on the club’s official website, www.mcfc.co.uk, said:
“Manchester City are delighted to announce Raheem Sterling has joined the club on a
five-year deal.
“The 20-year-old England international’s transfer is a club record fee for an English player and he also becomes City’s record signing.”
City’s interest in Sterling has been an open secret for some time, but the Reds were desperate to retain his services as they braced themselves for an approach at the end of a disappointing last season.
However, they were fighting a losing battle from the moment he told boss Brendan Rodgers he wanted to leave following his return for pre-season training, and his request not to be included in the party for the club’s pre-season trip to Australia and the Far East sparked claims of a bust-up with the manager, something the Jamaica-born attacking midfielder’s camp has strenuously denied.
Liverpool rejected a series of offers from City as they held out for their £50m valuation of their prize asset, but the two clubs eventually reached agreement and proceedings moved on swiftly with both now well into their preparations for the new campaign.
Sterling began his career at QPR – who will receive almost £9m from the move to City – and joined the Reds for an initial fee of £600,000 as a 15-year-old in 2010.
He was handed a senior debut by then-manager Kenny Dalglish as a 17-year-old and was twice named the club’s Young Player of the Year.
He will now face the prospect of competing with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and David Silva at the spearhead of a City side which finished a distant second to Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea last season.
