Manchester City have announced the signing of defender Eliaquim Mangala from Porto.
The Frenchman becomes City's sixth signing of the summer as manager Manuel Pellegrini continues his efforts to strengthen the squad.
"I'm very happy to come to England because for me, the Premier League is the best league in the world. It is a very intense and very aggressive competition. There are plenty of goals, so it is also really nice to watch and I can't wait to get started!" the club's website Managala.
The 23-year-old is understood to have cost City £32million. Wearing the no 20 jersey, Mangala will join his Porto teammate Fernando at the Etihad.
"City is a top club in Europe. For me, it was an important step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my progress. I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am ambitious and this is why I am here.
"The fact that Fernando is here is better because I played with him at Porto but there is also other players that I know like Sagna, Clichy and Nasri."
Meanwhile, Pellegrini showed full confidence in his new signing and believes that Mangala has all the attributes to become the best defender in Europe.
"I'm delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim's quality in the squad ahead of the new season. I think he will prove to be a great signing for us," the manager pointed out. "He is already a fine player but in my opinion, he has all of the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe's very best defenders.
"Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball."
City's chase of Mangala has been one the longest in the transfer market this summer, with both camps vocal about the interest since last season. The defender now joins Fernando, Frank Lampard, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero and Bruno Zuculini in becoming part of the Citizens this summer.
Recognised for his tenacious tackling, positional sense and athleticism, Mangala scored three goals in six appearances in Europe last season as Porto reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League but were beaten by eventual winners Sevilla.
Mangala started his professional career at Belgian side Standard Liege. He won the Belgian Pro League and Cup before Porto spotted the potential in the then-20-year old and took him to the Estadio do Dragao, along with Steven Defour.
