Manchester City have completed the signing of Yaya Toure from Barcelona on a five-year deal.
GettyImages
Yaya Toure has joined his brother Kolo at Manchester City.
Toure, 27, has long been linked with a move to Eastlands and, having agreed a deal for David Silva earlier in the week, Roberto Mancini said he is delighted by the new arrivals.
He told the club's official website: "This is another fantastic signing for Manchester City, and I am very pleased Yaya has joined us. He is a very good player.
"Everyone knows Yaya is a player that we have admired for a long time, and we would like to welcome him to Manchester City. He has played at the top level with Barcelona and I am sure he his experience and ability will be very important for us."
The move unites Toure with his brother, Kolo, and Yaya said: "This is a dream come true. I have always wanted to play for the same club as my brother and I'm so happy that it has finally happened. It's great for our family, we're all so happy about it.
"Kolo told me it's an amazing time for the club and a very exciting project. They want to make some big signings, and I needed a big challenge."
He added: "I believe we can do well this season and then play in the Champions League next year. I played with some very special players at Barcelona, but now I am coming to City and they have the same kinds of players, like Tevez, Adebayor, Vieira and of course my brother! I hope that with my signing Manchester City can get even better, and I'm sure that we can become a great team.
"I love the Premier League and I watch it all the time and City did very well to finish fifth but I hope we can improve on that by qualifying for the Champions League. This is a big club and that has to be our first objective, and then we have to look at winning championships as well."
A statement on the official Barcelona website claimed the deal had yet to be fully completed but indicated that the move would be sealed shortly.
"FC Barcelona and Manchester City have come to an agreement in principle for the transfer of Toure Yaya to the Premiership club," it read.
"A complete agreement is still pending the Ivory Coast international definitively terminating his contractual relationship with FC Barcelona. Once this has been done, the economic conditions of the transfer will be revealed. It is thereby confirmed that Toure is leaving the club."