Manchester City Officially Signs Josko Gvardiol: Be The Second Most Expensive Defender In History

Josko Gvardiol has officially joined Manchester City. (Photo: Instagram @mancity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City officially completed the recruitment of center-back from Croatia Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. The player was offered a five-year contract duration.

The signing was officially announced as a new player on Saturday, August 5. He was obtained with a transfer dowry of 77 million pounds or IDR 1.4 trillion.

That number makes Gvardiol the second most expensive defender of all time after Harry Maguire, who joined Manchester United for a transfer fee of 80 million from Leicester City in 2019.

Gvardiol, 21, impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig after joining Dinamo Zagreb in July 2021.

"I always dreamed that one day I could play in England and come true now with Manchester City. After the season they just had, it was a great honor for me," said Gvardiol as quoted by the BBC, Saturday, August 5.

Gvardiol, who has so far been recorded 21 times in Croatia and helped the country finish third in the 2022 World Cup and runners-up in the Nations League this year, will wear the number 24 jersey at City.

"Anyone who saw Manchester City's game last season knew they were the best team in the world," said Gvardiol.

"Joining City is something very special for me and my family. Having the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola will be extraordinary," he added.

Gvardiol was included in the Leipzig squad which reached the Europa League semifinals in the 2021/2022 season. At that time their journey ended after losing 2-3 to Rangers.

Gvardiol's Leipzig entered the Europa League this season after finishing third in the Champions League group which City scored. At that time Leipzig lost 1-8 in two legs to the club, including a 0-7 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.