Manuel Akanji: Man City sign Switzerland defender from Borussia Dortmund - BBC Sport
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Manuel Akanji: Man City sign Switzerland defender from Borussia Dortmund

Last updated on .From the section Man Citycomments439

Manuel Akanji
Manuel Akanji is Manchester City's fifth signing this summer

Manchester City have signed Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji on a five-year deal.

The 27-year-old joins from Borussia Dortmund, where he has made 158 appearances since January 2018.

Akanji has 41 caps for Switzerland and played a key role in their qualification for the World Cup.

"I am delighted to be here and can't wait to get started. City have been one of the best teams in Europe over the last few seasons," he said.

"They are brilliant to watch, play an exciting brand of football and compete for trophies year in, year out, so coming here feels like the perfect next step in my career.

"Pep Guardiola is an exceptional manager and this is an exceptional squad of players, so this is an exciting opportunity for me.

"I am really looking forward to testing myself in the Premier League and I will do everything I can to help this club be successful."

Akanji, who began his career with FC Basel, links up with former Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland following his move to City earlier this summer.

He is the fifth signing Guardiola has made during this transfer window as City look to win a third successive Premier League title and a first Champions League trophy.

City's director of football Txiki Begiristain said: "Manuel has plenty of experience playing at the top level of European football and we are confident he will be a valuable addition to our squad.

"We have been impressed with his performances during his time at Dortmund, where he has developed into a very good defender and one who is ready to perform in both the Premier League and Champions League.

"He has everything we want in a centre-back. He is strong, quick, comfortable in possession, has an excellent passing range and he will complement the other defenders in this team and our style of play."

Meanwhile, French midfielder Claudio Gomes, 22, has left to join Italian Serie B club Palermo.

He made three appearances for City, and has had loan spells at PSV Eindhoven and Barnsley.

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439 comments

  • Comment posted by Erl of Manchester, at 13:25 1 Sep 2022

    So now the moaners have a problem when City don't buy big.

    Yes many have not heard of him but a Swiss international with plenty of experience, will be a good squad player given there's always an injury or two to our main defenders. Stones, Dias, Ake all just recovered with Laporte still out.

    Will be better and way way cheaper than Maguire.

    • Reply posted by Don-t tell him Pike, at 13:47 1 Sep 2022

      Don-t tell him Pike replied:
      Certainly way cheaper. But why isn’t he getting a game for Dortmund?…I saw him a couple of times for Dortmund in 19/20 season. And some of his mistakes make Maguire look like Maldini.

  • Comment posted by G78, at 13:32 1 Sep 2022

    Congratulations Manuel Akanji, please collect your 22/23 league winners medal from the front desk.

    • Reply posted by Gandalf, at 16:40 1 Sep 2022

      Gandalf replied:
      Nice that people are making such optimistic predictions about City’s season but there’s such a long way to go. Willing to bet that, as soon as we lose a game (which we will), this site will be flooded with people saying we’re rubbish and won’t win anything..!

  • Comment posted by Treble Winners 2023, at 13:18 1 Sep 2022

    Superb signing. Small fee, UCL experience, speaks perfect English, played at a high level for a top Bundesliga side. All positive. Welcome Manuel

    • Reply posted by NB22, at 13:29 1 Sep 2022

      NB22 replied:
      Exactly and for £15m with all the massive fees currently being paid for average players, this looks like a shrewd signing by Man City for an experienced international.

  • Comment posted by red on my sleeve , at 13:16 1 Sep 2022

    Watch him at the euros.
    Class act I must say.. 👌

    • Reply posted by Scotty, at 17:38 1 Sep 2022

      Scotty replied:
      Agreed - bargain signing frankly!

  • Comment posted by koiahoy, at 13:16 1 Sep 2022

    He always looked great for Dortmund so I'm surprised there wasn't more interest in him before now. Not a City fan, but interested to see how he does.

    • Reply posted by Don-t tell him Pike, at 13:48 1 Sep 2022

      Don-t tell him Pike replied:
      Really? 2019/20 - His mistakes essentially decided the Bundesliga.

  • Comment posted by Heath Park, at 13:40 1 Sep 2022

    Why does the BBC add the HYS only at 1pm when the article was posted two hours earlier?
    But when you post for the thousandth time about Antony signing for ManU you open the HYS at the same time??

    • Reply posted by Mao Zedong in Cheek, at 13:41 1 Sep 2022

      Mao Zedong in Cheek replied:
      Antony has signed for’nited? Why didn’t somebody tell us?

  • Comment posted by Gandalf, at 13:17 1 Sep 2022

    Sensible buy. He’s a decent defender and adds a bit of cover in an area where things could rapidly get tricky if we had a couple of injuries. A very sensible price, too. Doing business the right way these days, whatever the trolls think!

    • Reply posted by Goody, at 13:34 1 Sep 2022

      Goody replied:
      Why is it a sensible buy at a sensible price?

      27 years old, so not a future prospect and will have little sell on benefit

      5 internationals competing for 2 positions, maybe 3

      In a fully fit squad, may not even get on the bench

      The sensible thing would be to promote youth from within and develop talent - but Pep can't do that

  • Comment posted by Blue Tamsie, at 13:50 1 Sep 2022

    Great buy and a even better price City's net spend is minus £80 million this window and we have had the best window in the prem

    • Reply posted by kissred77, at 13:53 1 Sep 2022

      kissred77 replied:
      Wow.

  • Comment posted by KINKLADZE, at 13:35 1 Sep 2022

    Well done City another shrewd deal sorted .

  • Comment posted by Gilly79, at 14:50 1 Sep 2022

    Arsenal fan here. I like the way City go about their tfr business. Yes it's easier if you have very deep pockets but they don't pay over the odds too often. Grealish maybe an exception. Haaland was very good price and recouped that selling Jesus to us. Most players no more than £50mln, whereas we spend £72mln on Pepe!. £17m on any player today is good business and he is an alright player too.

    • Reply posted by D1682552405157, at 16:10 1 Sep 2022

      D1682552405157 replied:
      "tfr" ?

  • Comment posted by D1710651612502, at 13:46 1 Sep 2022

    I think City has had a great window.
    Not over paid for anyone
    Got a good balance of players out and players in.
    The Squad looks stronger.
    I the Arsenal have also had a good window
    Spurs not far behind
    Liverpool and Chelsea both look weaker at the moment but time will tell.

    • Reply posted by Bloomoon, at 14:03 1 Sep 2022

      Bloomoon replied:
      Tend to agree but think Liverpool’s problems are down to injuries, and they’ll definitely be in the mix come squeaky bum time; Chelsea, however, seem to have Tuchel in meltdown and I’m wondering if he can turn himself around

  • Comment posted by Billy Goat Gruff, at 13:48 1 Sep 2022

    City really are the experts at buying players who turn out to be worth far more than they paid for them. Starting with Aguero at 35 million and Kompany around 8 million. Then we have Haaland, while offloading Sterling for nearly as much.

    • Reply posted by kissred77, at 13:52 1 Sep 2022

      kissred77 replied:
      How much u reckon you will get for Grealish?

  • Comment posted by PJG, at 14:40 1 Sep 2022

    Love seeing how a relatively cheap signing can cause the yellow snow to boil from fans of the history clubs.

    • Reply posted by Gandalf, at 16:24 1 Sep 2022

      Gandalf replied:
      “City spend too much”, “City don’t spend enough”, “City don’t sell to buy”, “why have City sold Jesus and Sterling?!”, “who cares about net spend anyway?”, “City don’t have any young players… no, not THOSE young players!”, “Haaland’s price should include all agent fees, add-ons, costs, salary, bonuses, etc” — “but OUR new signing cost sale price only, how dare you include the mandatory add-ons?!”

  • Comment posted by 1968STEVE, at 16:50 1 Sep 2022

    Think the combined fees for Haaland, Akanji and the absolute bargain that is Alvarez are less than the Nunez fee on its own (Heard its close to £100m with all the add ins). Great business by city.

    • Reply posted by HeyJudeChants, at 16:52 1 Sep 2022

      HeyJudeChants replied:
      Nope, but there you go

  • Comment posted by LongTimeBlue, at 13:19 1 Sep 2022

    Welcome to the champions of England.

  • Comment posted by Heath Park, at 13:33 1 Sep 2022

    A great signing at an affordable price.
    Erling Haaland must know him well.

  • Comment posted by Peterrow, at 16:26 1 Sep 2022

    Began his career with FC Basel? What rubbish BBC!

    He began his career with FC Winterthur. I watched his first team debut (away at FC Locarno). Although he got sent off, it was clear he was the best player on that pitch.

    He was a regular for FCW the next season (2014-15) and was excellent. He was then was transferred to Basel for the 2015-16 season.

    • Reply posted by Greenheys23, at 16:28 1 Sep 2022

      Greenheys23 replied:
      It’s nice to read facts on this HYS.

  • Comment posted by kingkladze, at 13:15 1 Sep 2022

    quality signing as defensive cover. No desperation in throwing big money at players no other club is linked with like chelsea and nited have

  • Comment posted by bnc, at 15:16 1 Sep 2022

    As a Borussia fan I can tell you that he can score goals as well as defend 😎

    • Reply posted by common sense, at 15:28 1 Sep 2022

      common sense replied:
      So, you are the other Dortmund fan?!
      I assume you don't mean Gladbach?!?
      At least Akanji knows how to keep Haaland's wings stable.

  • Comment posted by Jack MAupaaaaay, at 13:13 1 Sep 2022

    He's no Harry Maguire

    • Reply posted by D1710544837578, at 13:39 1 Sep 2022

      D1710544837578 replied:
      Not at that sensible price, no.

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