David Silva has left Manchester City at the end of his contract to join La Liga side Real Sociedad on a two year deal.
The announcement came on the day that City confirmed that Silva would be getting a statue to mark his 10 years at the Etihad Stadium after he played his last game for the club in the 2-1 Champions League defeat to Lyon on Saturday.
It had been largely expected that the 34-year-old playmaker would be joining Italian giants Lazio on a lucrative three year deal.
Instead, the free agent inked a two year deal to join the Basque club, who finished 6th in La Liga last season and qualified for the Europa League.
Silva will take the number 21 shirt vacated by on-loan midfielder Martin Odegard who was recalled early from his two-year loan deal to return to his parent club Real Madrid.
Silva, widely considered to be one of City’s best ever players, was told about the plan to commission a statue to be located at the Etihad Stadium following his final Premier League game against Norwich City in July.
The Spaniard, known as ‘El Mago’, made 436 appearances for City, scoring 77 goals over a crucial ten year period for the club during which he won 14 titles – four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, and three Community Shields.
Silva finishes his City career in joint 10th position with Willie Donachie on the list of all-time Manchester City appearance makers.
In a decorated career, Silva also won the World Cup and European Championships twice with Spain and was only missing the Champions League prior to his departure from Manchester City.
A training pitch with bespoke mosaic, which has already been completed and immortalises his contribution to the 6-1 defeat of arch-rivals United in 2011, will also be dedicated to him at the City Football Academy.
Silva will also get a duplicate mosaic for his own home while a pitch dedication will take place within Government Safety Guidelines and Silva’s ability to travel to Manchester in person.
Silva’s mosaic was designed by local Manchester artist Mark Kennedy, a life-long Manchester City fan.
Manchester City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, told Silva of the plan to commission the statue and said:
“David Silva is a transformational player; a quiet leader who has acted quietly and deliberately and inspired everyone around him, from the youngest academy player to his senior team-mates over the past ten years.
“ He has put a stamp on the team, on this Club, its history and even the Premier League as a whole. In doing so he has been instrumental to the beautiful football philosophy you see today. He was the start of it.
“As with Vincent [Kompany] before him, David’s statue will act as a lasting reminder of the wonderful moments that he gave us, not only as an incredible footballer, but as an inspiring ambassador who represented this Football Club with great dignity at all times.”