Man City break the world record for a defender (again)

Daniel Storey

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

The left-back, who will reportedly cost the club an initial £49.4m, is the fourth defensive reinforcement brought in by Pep Guardiola, who signed Real Madrid’s Danilo yesterday for an estimated £26.9m.

Tottenham’s Kyle Walker (£45m) and goalkeeper Ederson (£35m) are the other players to join a new-look backline with Mendy’s Monaco team-mate Bernardo Silva a £43.6m signing to bolster midfield.

Mendy has signed a five-year contract and will now join up with his new team-mates in the United States, where Guardiola and his squad are preparing for their second pre-season tour game against Real Madrid in Los Angeles.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City,” Mendy told mancity.com.

“This is what I wanted from the very beginning. As soon as the (French) championship was over I talked to my family and it was all clear in my head, I wanted to join Manchester City.

“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.”