It’s official: Raheem Sterling is a Manchester City player.
Sterling, 20, had a medical in Manchester on Tuesday and has completed a deal which is said to be worth $75 million, with City paying Liverpool an initial fee of $69 million and a further $6 million will be paid in add-ons.
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City have handed Sterling a five-year contract and he will wear the coveted No. 7 jersey at the Etihad Stadium. With the transfer, Sterling becomes the most expensive English player in history and $75 million is the third-highest transfer fee in Premier League history.
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Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini was delighted to add Sterling to his squad as City’s attacking options out wide have been boosted considerably as they look to wrestle the PL title from Chelsea in the upcoming season and challenge for the UEFA Champions League.
The speedy winger has burst onto the scene at Anfield over the past two seasons, scoring 16 goals and adding 12 assists as Liverpool finished second and fifth in the Premier League standings, while also competing in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League last season.
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Liverpool paid just $1 million for Sterling in 2010 when he arrived from Queens Park Rangers, with the deal potentially rising to $7.5 million, and five years later they have made a huge profit on the man many have coveted to be the best on the planet under the age of 21.
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Now, Sterling will link up with Man City on their preseason tour of Australia, as the youngster has finally got his wish to move on from Anfield and chase trophies with the Citizens.