Benjani completes Man City switch
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
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Manchester City FC have rubber-stamped the signing of Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari from English rivals Portsmouth FC for an initial fee worth over €5m.
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Manchester City FC have completed the signing of Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari from Premier League rivals Portsmouth FC for a fee of just over €5m.
'A quality player'
The forward has accepted a two-and-a-half year contract at the City of Manchester Stadium, with Portsmouth set to receive an additional payment if Benjani makes more than 75 appearances. City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, 60 today, said: "I am delighted we have signed such a quality player, and I am looking forward to working with him straight away."
Move delayed
The deal had been held up because City were unwilling to complete the transfer until Benjani had passed his medical, although the Football Association officially registered the move on deadline day. The 29-year-old scored 19 goals in 70 league games for Portsmouth – including 12 strikes this season – after joining from AJ Auxerre midway through the 2005/06 campaign. He is captain of Zimbabwe.