Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million).
The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week.
Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki.
Photo: AP
After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping to bounce back quickly with a major overhaul of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
They also spent more than ￡72 million in January on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez.
City are to face Moroccan side Wydad AC and Emirati club Al-Ain before a clash of European heavyweights with Juventus in the group stage, which starts on Saturday.
“City are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true,” Ait-Nouri said in a club statement. “I am also so excited about working with and learning from [manager] Pep [Guardiola] and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players.”
Ait-Nouri spent five years at Wolves, initially arriving on loan from Angers SCO before signing permanently for ￡14.9 million in 2021.
He is City’s first left-back specialist since Benjamin Mendy, who played his final game for the club almost four years ago.
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