Rayan Ait-Nouri
Rayan Ait-Nouri has completed his move from Manchester City to Wolves
Manchester City have completed the signing of defender Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves in a deal worth up to £36million. Ait-Nouri becomes deposed Premier League champions City's first signing of the summer and has agreed a five-year deal.
City moved quickly to get the deal completed by Tuesday's deadline before the first transfer window shuts, enabling Ait-Nouri to play in the Club World Cup which starts on Saturday. The deal for the 24-year-old Algeria international is understood to be for an initial £31m, rising to a potential £36m on completion of certain clauses and bonuses.
Ait-Nouri will become City's first-choice left-back, after Pep Guardiola operated without a recognised specialist there last season and the season before. Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake and Nico O'Reilly filled in there last season, with Ait-Nouri's arrival solving a long-standing problem for City in that position.
Ait-Nouri said: “I'm incredibly happy and honoured to have joined Manchester City. City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true.
“I'm also so excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players. Joining City is also a very proud moment for my family, too. Now I can’t wait to get started and to play in front of our supporters.”
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City director of football Hugo Viana said: “Rayan is a player that, as a club, we have been following closely for quite some time and we are delighted he has joined us.
“He already has extensive Premier League experience and has also demonstrated his quality at international level with Algeria.
“We feel sure that he will be an excellent addition to our squad and that working alongside Pep and his coaching staff will help develop his game even further.
“At just 24, he is someone we feel sure will help us in our objective to bring more success to the club.”
Ait-Nouri joined Wolves from French side Angers permanently in 2021, having spent the previous season on loan there. He made 157 appearances for Wolves, scoring 12 goals and producing 19 assists over his five-year spell at Molineux.
Angers are understood to be landing £9.5m from the deal, after Wolves bought out their 50 per cent sell-on clause - as per the two sides' agreement when Ait-Nouri was sold to Wolves.
Last season Ait-Nouri started 37 of 38 Premier League games, with City boss Pep Guardiola said to have been as impressed with his reliability as his attacking and defensive qualities.
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