Official: Manchester City Sign Raheem Sterling For A?49 Million (Tweets)

English winger Raheem Sterling has completed his long anticipated A?49 million move to Manchester City from Liverpool FC.

The 20-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Etihad club, after completing his medical on Tuesday. The deal makes him the most expensive English footballer of all time, while his wages are reported to be at a whooping 180,000-a-week.

Sterling, who was part of a long protracted transfer saga, with the player having refused to go with Liverpool FC on their pre-season tour. The behavior of both Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward have been questioned by a huge section of the footballing world, including former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

After initial two bids below A?40 million were rejected by Livepool FC, City finally agreed on a A?49 million fee for the English International. The deal also means, Queens Park Rangers, Sterling’s former club, pocket in the region of A?9.8 million, due a clause in his contract.

Sterling will wear the vacated No 7 jersey of Manchester City, after James Milner it’s previous occupant moved to Liverpool following the expiration of his contract. The winger will now fly to Australia, to participate in City’s pre-season tour.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: a Raheem Sterling is one of the best attacking players in world football, and I am very much looking forward to him joining our squad out in Australia later this week.

a He is a young player with outstanding ability, and I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in action for the team.”

The fans took to Twitter, to express their relief as the transfer saga, which had almost become frustrating for all the parties involved, finally came to an end. However, which of the two clubs got the better deal, remains to be seen. If Sterling can realize his potential and live up to the transfer fees, City might have pulled a coup. But with the past record of some big money English flops, their is always that little iota of doubt.