He is Manchester City’s second signing of the summer
Manchester City have completed the signing of Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. The club made the announcement on Twitter on Wednesday night.
We’re excited to announce the signing of @NathanAke from Bournemouth on a five-year deal ✍️
🔵 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/6tyYQ2OVwv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 5, 2020
“City have been the best side in England over the course of the last decade,” he said.
“Pep is a manager admired across the world – what he’s done in the game speaks for itself. The success he’s had is unbelievable and the style of football he plays really appeals to me.”
Ake joins for a fee of around £41m on a five-year contract as a welcome boost to City’s defensive quality and depth. This season, following a devastating injury to Aymeric Laporte, their soft underbelly was exposed as they lost nine matches throughout the season, surrendering their league title to Liverpool.
There is debate as to where Ake will play for City. His versatility will be useful to Pep Guardiola, who has still not settled on a first choice left-back after four years at the club. Ake can fill in at left-back but prefers to play as a left-sided central defender, also Laporte’s favoured position.
It’s more than likely that we will see Guardiola deploy both Ake and Laporte in a hybrid system that sees Ake tuck in as a third defender in possession and reverts to a full-back without the ball. Either way, the arrival of the 25-year-old is great business for City at a time when their squad needs rejuvenating.
