Manchester City have completed the signing of Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia on a five-year deal.
The Argentine international centre-back scored six goals in 35 La Liga appearances last season and was named in Team of the Season.
Otamendi told City’s website: “I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles.
“That’s the most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.”
Nicolas, who started his career at Valez Sarsfield, won the Portuguese League three times in three-and-a-half years at FC Porto before joining Valencia in February last year.
Nicolas Otamendi Joins Manchester City from Valencia. Image: Getty.
He headed Valencia’s winner as they snapped Real Madrid’s club record 22-match winning streak in January.
The 27-year-old made his international debut in April 2009 and has since earned 25 caps for La Albisceste, including World Cup appearances in South Africa in 2010.
He arrives at the Etihad Stadium on the back of an impressive Copa America outing in Chile, where his country finished runners-up the host nation.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini added: “Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I’m delighted to have added a player of his quality.
“He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.
“As a footballer, Nicolas has all of the qualities to be a success in the Premier League – he’s strong, he’s excellent in the tackle and he’s very good technically.
“I am sure he will become another Argentine player our fans will enjoy watching.”
Nicolas is Man City’s third signing this summer after Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph and the sixth Argentine at the four-time Premier League champions, following in the footsteps of Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, Willy Cabalero, and Bruno Zuculini.
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