Guardiola makes first City signing

 

Athletic Club defender Aymeric Laporte has agreed to join Manchester City in the summer, according to Gianluca di Marzio, via Get French Football.

 

Reports emerged from Spain last week claiming City had activated Laporte’s €50m (£39.8m) release clause but any deal looked to be in doubt after the central defender broke his ankle during the international break for France’s Under-21s.

 

However, City have seemingly pressed on with the deal, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen what has been a poor backline for City this season.

 

Laporte is expected to be out until July and appears to have already played his last game for Athletic, who had hoped to offer the 21-year-old a contract extension to ward off interest this summer.

 

Guardiola makes first City signing

 

The Frenchman has been particularly impressive in the Europa League this season, where no player has completed more interceptions (38).

 

For more stats on Aymeric Laporte, click here to visit his WhoScored player page