Manchester City have won the battle to sign Gabriel Jesus, completing a 27 million British-pound deal for the Brazilian teenager on Wednesday.
In a statement on their official website, Manchester City said the Palmeiras striker agreed to join the club on a five-year deal, though he will only arrive after the current Brazilian season in January.
Here we go! ?? Let’s all #WelcomeGabriel to City! ➡️ https://t.co/mJ3gXVLVoS #mcfc pic.twitter.com/hFsMzi8jig
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 3, 2016
“Manchester City is one of the best clubs in the world so I’m really pleased to sign,” Gabriel said. “We have many great talents in the team and a fantastic manager in Pep Guardiola that I can learn so much from. I’m looking forward to showing the City fans what I can do and I think we’ ll have a great future together.”
The announcement ends weeks of speculation in which Gabriel was also linked with Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Gabriel, who is currently with Brazil’s Olympic squad in Rio de Janeiro, is the top scorer in the country’s Serie A championship this year with 10 goals from 14 matches.
Last month Brazil great Ronaldo backed the 19-year-old to be a star of the future, along with Santos prodigy Gabriel Barbosa.
A flying start to a blossoming career…
Gabriel Jesus in pictures ? https://t.co/bSBDLggVEA #WelcomeGabriel #mcfc pic.twitter.com/mpN1j4nARK
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 3, 2016
Manchester City’s football director Txiki Begiristain described Gabriel as one of the world’s brightest talents.
“We are delighted that Gabriel has chosen to join us. He is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and plays the game in a spectacular way. We look forward to him making a big impact at Manchester City in January.”
Manchester City said the transfer fee could rise to 31 million pounds with add-ons. The club has now spent around 100 million pounds on transfers since the arrival of manager Pep Guardiola last month.
Among those to have joined the club are Ikay Gundogan, Nolito and Leroy Sane.