Aston Villa
captain Fabian Delph has signed a five-year contract at Manchester City less
than a week after saying he was staying at Villa Park. England midfielder
Delph's move to City had appeared over after he "set the record
straight" over his future. City agreed to meet an £8m release clause
inserted into the new four-and-a-half-year contract signed in January.
"At
just 25 years old, he still has his best years ahead," said City boss
Manuel Pellegrini.
"He is
an excellent player, I am looking forward to working with him."
Delph
completed a medical on Friday and will fly to Australia over the weekend to
join his new team-mates for pre-season training. He will wear the number 18
shirt which Frank Lampard, now at New York City, wore last season.
LISTEN:
Ex-Villa boss Paul Lambert tells 5 live Fabian Delph had every right to change
his mind
Aston Villa
released a 30-word statement confirming
their captain's exit.
"Aston
Villa can confirm that Fabian Delph has exercised the release clause in his
contract and will join Manchester City," it said.
"We'd
like to wish him success in his future career."
Delph
released a statement last week after reports of his original medical at City,
saying: "I'm not leaving, I'm staying at the football club."
On Friday,
he said he had spoken to his England team-mate and City goalkeeper Joe Hart -
as well as Villa's new signing from City Micah Richards - before signing.
"Micah
Richards told me that as far as he is concerned, this is the best club in the
world and he had the time of his life here," added Delph.
Former Leeds
player Delph did not travel with the Villa squad for their pre-season training
camp in Portugal.
He helped
Villa retain their Premier League status last season, making 28 league
appearances, and also played a key role in their run to the FA Cup final, where
they lost 4-0 to Arsenal.
He made his
England debut against Norway last September and has six caps.
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