Manchester City bade farewell to club legend Joe Hart who left the club to join Premier League rivals Burnley after 12 years at the club.
Hart, who had a year left on his City contract, joined the Clarets for a fee believed to be in the region of £4m – a snip in a summer where the goalkeeping world record was broken twice with the signings of Alisson for £67m from Roma to Liverpool and Kepa Arrizabalaga for £71m from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea.
Hart has signed on an initial two year deal to join Burnley side hit by a dislocated shoulder injury to Nick Pope during the first leg of their Europa League tie against Aberdeen.
With Tom Heaton still recovering from a season-ending injury, Burnley boss Sean Dyche had fielded veteran ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard against the Scottish side but with a long European campaign ahead, Dyche could not pass up the opportunity to sign an experienced goalkeeper in Hart.
Highly decorated Joe Hart moves on tp Burnley from Manchester City but will be remembered in a tribute in the autumn
Joe Hart finished his Manchester City career with 348 appearances having played an instrumental role in establishing the club as a major for in both domestic and European football.
Hart has two Premier League winners medals, one FA Cup, and two League Cups to his name and collected the Premier League golden glove on four occasions.
His performances in games against Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona will go down as some of his most memorable and fans will be given the chance to offer their appreciation to him at a formal tribute in the autumn.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Joe Hart’s contribution to Manchester City cannot be overstated.
“His twelve years at the club have seen him produce some remarkable performances and heart-stopping saves that will live in the memory for a long time to come.
“His passion for and commitment to this Club, evidenced by a remarkable tally of 348 appearances, means he will rightly be regarded as a City legend in perpetuity.
“I want to personally thank him for everything he has given to us over very many years and he leaves with Sheikh Mansour’s and my heartfelt best wishes for the next step in his career.
“He will always be welcome at the Club.”
Vincent Kompany on Joe Hart
City captain Vincent Kompany added: “Joe joined as a young lad from Shrewsbury and leaves a City legend.
“When you look at the Club he joined and the Club as it is now, we have come so far during his time in Manchester and Joe has been a huge part of that.
“Those saves against Dortmund and Barcelona, that hug with Gael in 2012, these are moments we won’t ever forget.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to play alongside him for so many years and I know I speak on behalf of every City fan when I say I hope he means as much to his next Club as he has meant to us.”
- Angus Gunn had already left the club earlier in the summer to join Southampton and Hart’s departure paves the way for 20-year-old goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw to be City’s defacto third choice goalkeeper this season. Grimshaw was in City’s travelling squad for the FA Community Shield win at the weekend.