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Photo by Victoria Haydn/Manchester City FC via Getty Images
Photo by Victoria Haydn/Manchester City FC via Getty Images

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Liverpool star and Jermain Defoe react as Manchester City complete signing

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Nathan Ake from Bournemouth with the Netherlands international signing a five-year deal at The Etihad – and Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, and ex-teammate Jermain Defoe reacted.

Ake, 25, became available after Bournemouth suffered relegation to the Championship this season. He is one of a number of Bournemouth players expected to leave, along with Callum Wilson, David Brooks and Joshua King.

BBC Sport claim Ake – who came through the ranks at Chelsea before moving to Bournemouth – has agreed a £40million move. It sees Pep Guardiola add a much-needed centre-back to his title hunt next season.

City suffered a crisis at the heart of their defence last term following an injury to Aymeric Laporte, and Nicolas Otamendi. John Stones is expected to leave, and Ake has been brought in. The Dutch ace posted on Instagram.

It is Manchester City’s first major signing this summer and is a signal of intent that they are looking to bring in top-quality additions this summer, after losing out to Liverpool in last season’s Premier League title race.

Van Dijk, who is Ake’s Netherlands centre-back partner and a crucial part of that Liverpool side, responded on Twitter. Former Bournemouth teammate Defoe, as well as Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong also commented.