Manchester City bolstered their injury-ravaged defense on Thursday by acquiring Swiss international Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.
Following the recent injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake, Akanji will provide the Premier League winners with additional defensive depth.
Akanji, who reportedly cost City £17 million, told the club’s website, “I am overjoyed to be here and cannot wait to get started.”
“In recent years, City has been one of the finest teams in Europe. They are wonderful to watch, play an exciting kind of football, and consistently fight for championships, so joining them feels like the ideal next step in my career.”
After joining Dortmund in 2018 from Basel, the 27-year-old spent four-and-a-half seasons there.
Akanji is City’s sixth summer signing after Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez, and Stefan Ortiz Moreno, all of whom were his former Dortmund teammates.
Manchester City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, commented on Akanji’s time at Dortmund, where he evolved into a very excellent defender capable of performing in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
“He possesses all the qualities we desire in a center-back. He is powerful, quick, at ease in possession, has a fantastic passing range, and will compliment the other defenders on our team and our playing style.”
Both Akanji and Haaland might potentially meet their previous club on September 14, as Dortmund is scheduled to play City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League group stage.