Distin teams up with Keegan

Newly promoted Manchester City FC have completed the €6.3m signing of French defender Sylvain Distin from Paris Saint-German FC.

Keen to stay
Distin, a left-sided defender, was on loan at Newcastle United FC last season, playing 34 games, and was keen to stay in English football. "We looked closely at bringing Sylvain to Maine Road before he went to Newcastle but at that stage we were in the first division and he was understandably looking for a [FA] Premiership deal," City's director of football, Dennis Tueart, said.

'Powerful athlete'
"When it became clear that Newcastle were not going to take up their option on the player, Kevin moved very quickly and we are delighted to have Sylvain on board," Tueart added. "He is a powerful, quick athlete who has already proved himself at the highest level. What is vitally important, too, in the strategy for team building, is that he is a left-sided central defender who is a like-for-like swap for Stuart Pearce who has now, of course, retired."

Third signing
The 24-year-old has signed a four-year deal to become manager Kevin Keegan's third defensive purchase in a week, following the arrival of Mikkel Bischoff and Dutchman Tyrone Loran.