Manchester City have completed the £34.7million signing of Benfica goalkeeper Ederson.
The 23-year-old Brazilian has moved to the Etihad Stadium on a six-year contract to become City’s new No 1.
The fee for Ederson breaks the British transfer record for a goalkeeper, eclipsing the £18.9m deal that brought David de Gea to Manchester United from Atlético Madrid six years ago.
However, the €40m that City have paid Benfica technically falls short of the world record €50m transfer of Gianluigi Buffon from Parma to Juventus in 2001.
The Ederson deal has taken longer to complete due to the third-party ownership of his economic rights.
Under the deal, his old Portuguese club Rio Ave receive 30 per cent of the fee and Gestifute, the agency run by Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes, pocket 20 per cent.
Ederson said: ‘I have always had the dream to play in English football and now I’m going to make it true.
‘When I knew it was real, that they were really interested in me, I was very happy because it’s good to see your work recognised. Manchester City is a great club, the league they have here in England, they have amazing fans and they play splendid football.
‘It’s a club that has been developing a lot lately. Now with Pep Guardiola they are growing more and more. They are putting in place a young team for the future. Those were important factors in making my decision. Manchester City has an amazing squad. I think they managed to have a good season. Next season, we will have to be focused to achieve the goal of winning trophies.
‘I have always watched the Premier League on TV. My impression is that it is a very intense game, box-to-box. The grounds are always full and the stadiums are really nice. This is a very captivating football. The competition here motivates any player.
‘I’m ready, I’m always ready. Here the matches are amazing, no matter who the opponent is, the games are always very close. Most of the matches are decided by a small margin. That shows the intensity and the competitiveness of the English league. The competition is good. Everyone knows here the competition is ferocious. It’s a bit different than the Portuguese league. But I’m going to try to adapt to this league as quickly as possible.
‘To be a goalkeeper you must be a little bit crazy. We have the courage to put our head where the players put their feet. I have that, of course. I’m a little bit crazy too! I’m a quiet goalkeeper, I always try to transmit confidence and calm to my teammates. That helps a lot.’
Ederson earned a reputation as a sweeper keeper in Portugal, never afraid to come out of his goal to take possession or help his defence. It was a key attribute that Pep Guardiola was looking for in his new No 1.
Culled from Mail
COMMENTS