Kyle Walker has joined Manchester City in a deal believed to be worth an initial £45m but with add-ons would eventually reach a record-equalling £50m for a defender.
Honoured to announce I have signed for @ManCity. Had an amazing time at @spursofficial but can't wait to start this new chapter with #MCFC! pic.twitter.com/rUAsqflHQL
— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) July 14, 2017
Walker, 27, signed a five-year-deal having spent eight seasons at White Hart Lane.
The Yorkshireman, who started his career at Sheffield United, has taken the vacant number 2 shirt and becomes City’s first full back signing of the summer.
He also has big boots to fill after the departure of legendary defender Pablo Zabaleta plus veteran full backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy this summer.
“It feels a little bit surreal.” admitted Walker, upon returning north after a lengthy period in the capital. “I have been at my previous club for so many years. I’m excited, it’s a new chapter in my career. I can’t wait to get started.”
Fitting in will be easier with England colleagues John Stones, Fabian Delph, and Raheem Sterling already at the club.
“It’s always nice to see familiar faces. Obviously Stones and I meet with England and spend a lot of time together, probably me, him and Del [Dele Alli] messing around, playing PlayStation, etc.” said Walker.
“It’s always good to see familiar faces and I’ll see Raheem soon.”
The signing of Walker will be relief to City who bizarrely missed out on Dani Alves who seemed set to join the club after being released from Juventus only to have Paris Saint Germain snatch the Brazilian from under their noses with a mega-money eleventh hour bid.
City boss Pep Guardiola has made no secret of the importance of athletic full backs to his preferred philosophy and Walker is the first of several attacking full backs who could join the club this summer.
“Attacking is a big part of my game but as I said countless times, I’m a defender. That’s first and foremost.” said Walker. “If I can go and give something offensively that’s going to be a positive for the team.”
He added: “it’s going to give us an extra edge that we can hopefully bring teams down with to go and get the win.”
City remain short of full backs though. Dani Alves was set to compete with Walker for the back berth while there remains no recognised left sided full backs on the club’s books with Gael Clichy released and Alexander Kolarov considered a centre back by City boss Guardiola.
Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy, 22, has been heavily linked with the club and could relish the chance to join his former team mate Bernardo Silva at the Etihad.