City seal deal for £6.8m Pablo
-
Manchester City have sealed the signing of Pablo Zabaleta from Espanyol for £6.8million, with the Argentina star penning a five-year contract.
The right-back has agreed a deal that will keep him at Eastlands until 2013 after succesfully coming through a medical.
Zabaleta is delighted to have secured a move to the Premier League and has also been impressed by City boss Mark Hughes.
"I am very happy to come here and play in the Premier League," Zabaleta told the club's official website.
"Playing in England has been a lifelong dream which has finally come true by moving to City."
Of Hughes, Zabaleta added: "I'd met him previously and was really impressed with him, but having talked to him about Manchester City I had to come here and be part of his plans.
"I'm very confident of helping the first team to achieve their goals for the season and after walking around the stadium I can't wait to play in front of the City fans there. It is very impressive."
Zabaleta won a gold medal at the Olympic Games earlier this month and Hughes was happy to follow up the capture of Shaun Wright-Phillips by bringing in the full-back.
Hughes said: "We feel the addition of Pablo is another great signing for Manchester City.
"He's young and a winner, with an Olympic gold medal to prove that, but more so he will provide us with great balance in the side.
"I'm very happy to bring him here and hopefully we can get a good result at Sunderland to round off what has been a very satisfactory week indeed for us."