Manchester City have ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ the squad number of new signing Mateo Kovacic, who has completed a transfer from Chelsea.
The 29 year-old is Manchester City’s first signing of the summer and comes just 24 hours after club captain Ilkay Gundogan announced his departure from the club.
Kovacic will move to the Etihad Stadium from Stamford Bridge, with the Croatian having spent five years at Chelsea after moving to West London from Real Madrid.
The midfielder made a permanent transfer to Chelsea after a successful initial loan spell, and as well as being named as player of the year at the club in 2020, Kovacic has won the UEFA Champions League and Europa League during his time in the capital.
Kovacic has signed for Manchester City for an initial £25 million with the potential for the fee to rise to £30 million.
The 29 year-old has penned a four-year contract with the Premier League champions, and joins with a wealth of experience, having also won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid and impressed on a global stage at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
Kovacic had one-year remaining on his Chelsea contract and is the first of potentially two Croatian’s to sign for City this summer, with the Blues also targeting RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol.
Manchester City have announced that the 29 year-old will wear the number eight shirt, inheriting the squad number of the departed Ilkay Gundogan.
The legєɴԀary squad number was made famous by the late Colin Bell, with Gundogan having made the shirt iconic himself, given the German’s historic goals during his seven years at the Etihad Stadium.
Other previous holder of the number eight shirt include Samir Nasri, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ali Benarbia.
Upon signing for Manchester City, Kovacic said: “This is a brilliant move for me, and I cannot wait to get started with City.
“Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are – for me, they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there.
“To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer. I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management I can become a better player, whichis really exciting for me.”
