Monaco full-back Benjamin Mendy has signed a mega five-year contract with Manchester City, the Premier League club announced on Monday.

The 23-year-old, who joined the French champions from Marseille last summer, has agreed a deal reported to be worth a record £52 million (58 million euros, $67 million) for a defender.

The France player will link up with his new teammates in the United States where Pep Guardiola’s side are preparing for their second pre-season tour game against Real Madrid in Los Angeles.
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“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City,” Mendy said. “They are one of Europe’s leading Clubs and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager committed to playing attacking football.

“I am sure that over the next few years we will be successful.”

Guardiola was desperate to add Mendy to his full-back options after releasing Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta this summer, but City’s original £44.5 million ($55.7 million, 49.7 million euros) offer was rejected.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss had already lured Tottenham’s England right-back Kyle Walker to Etihad Stadium in a deal which could be worth up to £54 million ($70.1 million, 60.1 million euros) and Monaco wanted a similar amount for Mendy.

Mendy becomes City’s fifth major signing of the summer and takes their spending to more than £200m (223 million euros, $260 million).

The Premier League giants, who have already raided Monaco in the close season having signed midfielder Bernardo Silva, and on Sunday welcomed another full-back, Real Madrid’s Danilo.

Mendy made his France debut in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Luxembourg in March, and won Ligue 1 in his first season with Monaco.