Manchester City believe their hunt for a player to replace Vincent Kompany is over after completing the transfer of Ruben Dias.
The Blues have lacked leadership since the Belgian star left last summer to become player-coach of Anderlecht.
Aymeric Laporte has emerged to become a key defender, but his relatively quiet personality means he has not filled Kompany's boots in terms of carrying the team with him.
Dias completed his £65.2million move on Monday, with Nicolas Otamendi going the other way for £13.7million.
And football director Txiki Begiristain said the 23-year-old fits the bill perfectly, with City having kept tabs on him for the last two or three seasons.
“Ruben is a player we have admired for some time and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica," said Begiristain.
“He has developed into a real leader and as a defender, he has all the attributes we are looking for. He is strong in the air, good in one v one situations and technically, he is very good, so we are confident he can thrive in our system.
“He is young but has gained valuable experience at a big European club in Benfica and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to sign him. He is another talented addition to the squad and someone who is only going to get better working under Pep.”
Dias has signed a six-year deal, the longest initial contract handed to a City player - although Ederson was handed seven years, Aymeric Laporte six and a half and Bernardo Silva six, all as extensions to their first deals.
