Man City complete deadline day swoop for Nico González

Manchester City have completed a deadline day deal with FC Porto for midfielder Nicolas González, adding the midfielder in the final hour of the midseason window.

ESPN reported earlier on Monday that the two teams were engaged in negotiations over his future, with the Premier League club originally unwilling to meet the release clause in González’s contract before eventually paying the fee, believed to be around €60 million ($62m).

He signs on a contract that runs to 2029. Porto had been unwilling to reduce their valuation because part of the payment will be owed to González’s former club, Barcelona.

The Spaniard moved to Portugal from LaLiga in 2023 and a source has told ESPN that the payment owed to Barcelona if González moves could be as high as 40% of the total transfer fee.

“This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career,” González said of the move.

“I am 23 and I want to test myself in England. There’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that.

“Look at the squad they have here. It’s unbelievable, full of world-class players. There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this set-up.

“I know the reputation Pep [Guardiola] has and I cannot wait to work with him. In fact, I am honoured he wants me to play in his team.

“I am truly excited. I just want to meet my teammates, and the staff here and then I want to play in front of the City fans!”

The move takes City’s spend in January to around €210m after the acquisitions of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as well as González.

Information from ESPN’s Rob Dawson and Sam Marsden contributed to this report.