Manuel Akanji can't wait to begin working with Pep Guardiola and believes he is the 'perfect' coach to help develop his career.
City have moved to make a rare deadline-day transfer by adding Manuel Akanji to their squad in a cut-price deal with Borussia Dortmund. The 27-year-old has penned a five-year deal at the Etihad and has taken No.25 shirt, which was vacated by former captain Fernandinho.
The Blues have brought in Akanji to add much-needed depth at centre-back, with Pep Guardiola's options currently low as Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Luke Mbete are all sidelined. Akanji is hoping to take his career to the next level under the manager's guidance.
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“I knew last year when I was at Borussia Dortmund that I wanted to make the next step in my career," he told City's official website. "I wanted to get better. Now moving here to Manchester City under the command of Pep Guardiola, it can't get better than that.
"The combination of the coach and the club is perfect for me. I'm really looking forward to working with him and the rest of the coaching staff and my teammates."
The 11th-hour move came as a surprise, even to Akanji himself, but he also explained it was an opportunity he couldn't allow to pass him by. “I'm really proud and really happy to be here,” he added.
“It was a bit unexpected in the last stage of the transfer market, but when Manchester City asked me if I wanted to come here, I had no doubts about moving here.
“I know the quality of this team. I'm here to prove myself as well. I want to show everyone that they were right in choosing me."
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