Manuel Akanji joins Manchester City on five year contract
By Tushar Bahl
Manuel Akanji has completed his move away from Borussia Dortmund, joining Manchester City on a five year contract.
After months of speculation, Manuel Akanji’s future has finally been resolved. The Switzerland international has joined Manchester City on a five year contract. Borussia Dortmund will receive a transfer fee in the region of 18 million euros (plus two million euros in add-ons) from the defender’s sale.
Akanji made it clear to Borussia Dortmund earlier this year that he will not be signing a new contract with the club as he is looking for a new challenge. The BVB bosses moved swiftly to bolster their defence with the signings of Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle. And with just one year left on Akanji’s contract, he was put on the transfer list.
The 27 year old attracted the interest of a number of clubs, including Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Arsenal. For a while, it looked like Borussia Dortmund’s asking price may deter interested clubs from signing him. But Manchester City came up with a late bid to clinch his signature.
Akanji joined Borussia Dortmund from FC Basel in January 2018 and made a total of 158 appearances for the club. The Switzerland international was one of the team’s most consistent performers last season. And he has all the attributes needed to succeed in the English Premier League.
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Akanji will link up with former Borussia Dortmund teammates Erling Haaland and Sergio Gomez at Manchester City. With the two clubs in the same UEFA Champions League group, the trio will not have to wait long before going up against the Black and Yellows.