Football transfer news | Man City signs Croatia centre-back Joško Gvardiol; Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez joins Chelsea

Manchester City sign Croatian defender Joško Gvardiol from Leipzig for $99.2M, making him one of the most expensive defenders in soccer history. Chelsea have also signed Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from Brighton & Hove Albion on a seven-year contract.

Manchester City signed Croatia centre-back Joško Gvardiol from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99.2 million) on Saturday, ranking him among the most expensive defenders in soccer history.

The 21-year-old Gvardiol, known as “Little Pep” because of his name’s likeness to City manager Pep Guardiola, is one of the most highly rated defenders in the world and enhanced his reputation with impressive performances for Croatia at the World Cup last year.

He signed a five-year contract with City, which won a treble of trophies last season: the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup.

“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world," Gvardiol said. "To win the treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has. To be joining City is something very special for me and my family."

At Leipzig, Gvardiol won the German Cup in back-to-back seasons and played in the Champions League.

The transfer fee puts him among the likes of Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, who cost 80 million pounds (then $97 million) when he joined from Leicester in 2019, and Virgil van Dijk, who moved from Southampton to Liverpool for 75 million pounds (then $100 million) in 2018.

“He is a player we have watched closely, and we feel he has a superb set of attributes,” City director of football Txiki Begiristain said. "Top clubs all over Europe have been monitoring him, so to bring him here is great news for us.