Portugal defender Ruben Dias has joined Manchester City from Benfica with Nicolas Otamendi travelling in the opposite direction.
Dias, 23, arrived in Manchester on Monday after completing a medical in Lisbon prior to making the journey to England and has signed a six year deal for a fee of around £65m with Otamendi a £15m makeweight.
Dias becomes City’s third signing of the summer after Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres although rumours of a move for a left back appear to be gaining ground if Oleksandr Zinchenko can be sold before Monday’s transfer deadline.
The 6’2” central defender, a product of the Benfica Academy, has won the Portuguese title and Super Cup and has Champions League experience from his time with Benfica.
He also has 19 international caps with Portugal and lifted the 2019 Nations League after being named man-of-the-match in the final and was also named in the team of the tournament alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Virgil Van Dijk, and City team mate Bernardo Silva.
Dias, who speaks good English, will not be short of friends at City, joining fellow Portuguese players Silva and Joao Cancelo, with Brazilians Ederson, Fernandinho, and Gabriel Jesus completing the Portuguese speaking contingent.
Dias has taken the number 3 shirt at City, and was excited to join the club.
He said: “To have the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me and one I couldn’t turn down.
“Their success speaks for itself.
“They have been the dominant team in England over the last few years, playing an attacking brand of football which I feel suits my own game.
“It is really exciting to be part of such a talented squad and to play for a world class manager like Pep Guardiola, who has a proven track record of developing young players like myself.
“I believe I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions match my own and I will give everything to be successful and win titles.”
Txiki Begiristain added: “Ruben is a player we have admired for some time and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica.
“He has developed into a real leader and as a defender, he has all the attributes we are looking for.
“He is strong in the air, good in one v one situations and technically, he is very good, so we are confident he can thrive in our system.
“He is young but has gained valuable experience at a big European club in Benfica and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to sign him.
“He is another talented addition to the squad and someone who is only going to get better working under Pep.”