Defender Rúben Dias joins Man City on six-year contract

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:37 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020 Last Modified: 3:38 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020

Advertise with us

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City completed the signing of centre back Rúben Dias as its third addition of the summer transfer window on Tuesday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City completed the signing of centre back Rúben Dias as its third addition of the summer transfer window on Tuesday.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2020 (2194 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANCHESTER, England – Manchester City completed the signing of centre back Rúben Dias as its third addition of the summer transfer window on Tuesday.

City did not disclose financial details but Benfica had already announced on Sunday that it was selling Dias to the Premier League club for 68 million euros ($78 million).

Dias signed a six-year contract with City.

Benfica's Ruben Dias, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Portuguese League soccer match between Benfica and Moreirense at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

“They have been the dominant team in England over the last few years, playing an attacking brand of football which I feel suits my own game,” Dias said. “It is really exciting to be part of such a talented squad and to play for a world-class manager like Pep Guardiola, who has a proven track record of developing young players like myself.

“I believe I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions match my own and I will give everything to be successful and win titles.”

Despite signing Nathan Ake for 40 million pounds ($46 million) during the off-season as a backup to left-sided centre back Aymeric Laporte, City remained in the hunt for a right-sided centre half to effectively replace Vincent Kompany, who left the club in 2019.

John Stones and Eric Garcia played in that position in City’s two league games so far this season, but both players’ futures are uncertain. Garcia has been linked with a return to Barcelona, while Stones was largely frozen out of the team last season.

The 23-year-old Dias, a tall and strong defender comfortable with the ball at his feet, has played 19 times for Portugal. He has established himself as a regular with the national team after being a squad member at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Dias came through the Benfica academy, joining its senior squad in 2015. He was captain for his final game for the team, against Moreirense on Saturday, and embraced his teammates and sporting director Rui Costa after the final whistle in a signal that he was about to leave.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports