Man City breaks defender transfer record
According to the British Guardian newspaper, Man City has just accepted to pay the fee of 112 million USD (100 million euros) that RB Leipzig asked to release Gvardiol. This figure is higher than the $85 million that the Transfermarkt site values the 21-year-old defender.
The two clubs have been negotiating for weeks, but progress has been slow. Leipzig presses on Man City because Gvardiol has a contract until 2027 with a release clause that takes effect next summer and is worth $ 123 million. However, by the end of July 19, the parties involved found a common voice. Gvardiol has completed the first part of his medical examination and is set to sign a five-year contract.
Once the deal is announced, Gvardiol will become the most expensive defender in history, breaking the record of $ 98 million since Harry Maguire joined Man Utd in 2019. Gvardiol will be the first defender to reach the "100 million euro" mark. and is the 16th player in history to reach this milestone.
Gvardiol will be Man City's second rookie this summer, after Mateo Kovacic - fellow Croatian from Chelsea for $31 million. The presence of the Croatia defender could "pave the way" for Aymeric Laporte and Kyle Walker to leave the Etihad Stadium. Man City parted ways with Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy after his contract expired and reached an agreement to sell Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli club.
According to Goal, Man City will soon announce Gvardiol for him to participate in the pre-season tour in Japan and Korea. The team will respectively meet Yokohama F. Marinos on July 23, Bayern Munich on July 26 in Tokyo and Atletico at Mapo on July 30. Pep Guardiola's teachers and students will start the new season with the English Super Cup match against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6.
Gvardiol started his professional career at Dinamo Zagreb in 2019 and then moved to RB Leipzig for $16 million. He became the most expensive teenage Croatian player in history and the Croatia defender the third highest transfer price. In two seasons with RB Leipzig, Gvardiol played 88 games, scored five goals and won two German Cups.
According to Opta Stats, among last season's defensive stats, Gvardiol is second behind Willi Orban in the RB Leipzig centre-backs with a total of 96 wins in duels, 43 no wins, total lanes passes are 2138 and 2423 touchdowns.
Gvardiol resonated at the 2022 World Cup, when he was a key factor in helping Croatia win third place. Gvardiol combined with experienced midfielder Dejan Lovren, creating a shield in front of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The 20-year-old has cleared the ball (37) and pulled the ball forward (202) the most in the league, and won possession more often than any other defender (48).
