Sterling completes record move to Man City
AFP
AFP, MANCHESTER: Raheem Sterling became the most expensive English footballer in history when he signed for Manchester City from Liverpool on a five-year contract, the England forwards new club announced on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old completed his move to the 2014 Premier League champions after passing a medical in a deal worth an initial 44million but could rise to 49 million ($76 million, 68 million euro).
Its a good feeling and this is really happy time for me and my family, Sterling told Citys official website late Tuesday.
Im just glad its all over and done with and I cant wait to get on the training field.
The thing that excites me the most is the world class squad we have and knowing we have a team that is capable of winning things year in, year out.
The forecast move away from Anfield appeared imminent at the weekend as Sterling stayed behind when Liverpool flew out for their tour of Thailand, Australia and Malaysia.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini rated his marquee signing as one of the best attacking players in world football.
The Chilean said: He is a young player with outstanding ability, and I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in action for the team.
A statement released on Citys official website, www.mcfc.co.uk, confirmed: Manchester City are delighted to announce Raheem Sterling has joined the club on a five-year deal.
The 20-year-old England internationals transfer is a club record fee for an English player and he also becomes Citys record signing.
The Jamaican-born Londoner assumes the most expensive English footballer mantle from Andy Carroll, who moved from Newcastle to Liverpool for 35 million but never lived up to the tag.
Sterling, who will wear the number seven shirt, is now second only to Welshman Gareth Bale on the all-time most expensive British player chart.
The headline capture brings the curtain down on a long-running transfer saga involving the England international who was under contract at Liverpool until 2017.
But he had rejected a 100,000-a-week deal to extend his stay at Liverpool, with the Reds finally accepting Citys third bid of the close season.
Sterling joined Liverpool from Queens Park Rangers in February 2010 for an initial fee of 600,000, and the Loftus Road club will receive 20%
of his fee.
Sterlings arrival follows the lifting of financial fair-play sanctions by UEFA against City, freeing the clubs Abu Dhabi stakeholders of their financial shackles.
Sterling will now fly out to meet up with his new team-mates on tour in Australia within the next 24 hours.
News of his departure from Anfield was also confirmed by Liverpool in an announcement on their official website.
It said: Liverpool Football Club can confirm Raheem Sterling has completed a transfer to Manchester City. The 20-year-old departs Anfield after 129 appearances and 23 goals for the Reds.
Liverpool FC wishes Raheem well.
On Monday Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had played down reports of a rift over the restless forward.
Contrary to probably the last week or so in terms of what was written, Raheem and I have always remained very strong in our relationship and have been right up until we left. So theres no issue there, he said from Bangkok.
In March, Sterlings relationship with the Liverpool hierarchy became particularly strained when, in an interview with the BBC given without the clubs approval, he confirmed he had rejected the Reds latest contract offer.
