Manchester City sign $110m playmaker

KevinDeBruyne - Cropped

Kevin De Bruyne has returned to the Premier League after completing his big-money move to Manchester City from Wolfsburg.

Belgium playmaker De Bruyne moved to the Bundesliga club in January 2014 after failing to break into the first-team picture at Chelsea.

However, the 24-year-old will have another crack at the top flight in England after joining City on a six-year deal, with the fee believed to be in the region of AU$110million.

De Bruyne shone for Wolfsburg last season, scoring 10 goals and assisting a remarkable 20 as the club finished second in the Bundesliga.

He also scored in the final as Wolfsburg beat Borussia Dortmund to win the DFB-Pokal, and was subsequently voted German football's player of the year. 

Speculation that De Bruyne would sign for City had been rife for months, and he has now become Manuel Pellegrini's latest recruit in the transfer window.

De Bruyne told the club's official website: "I want to reach the highest level possible as a player and I think the most important thing is that at the end of the season we can be happy and maybe have some titles.

"I think this is the most important for the Club, the players and for the fans of course."

Manager Manuel Pellegrini, who claimed to have little knowledge of the impending deal after Saturday's 2-0 win over Watford, added: "We are very happy to have added Kevin to our team and I have no doubt that he will be a big success on his return to the Premier League.  

"It takes a special footballer to improve our squad and I have no doubt that Kevin is certainly one of those – he has all of the mental, physical, tactical and technical attributes required to fit straight in.

"We like to play attractive, attacking football and bringing in a player like De Bruyne will only aid us as we fight on four fronts."

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