Manchester City have announced the signing of Belgian prolific winger Jeremy Doku from Rennes in France.
In a club statement shared on the club’s official website, the Premier League and European giants confirmed the addition of the Belgian youngster to their star-studded lineup.
“Manchester City are delighted to confirm the signing of Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennais on a five-year deal”, the club’s statement read.
Doku, 21, joins Manchester City on a five-year contract till 2028 for €65m transfer fee. The Antwerp-born Belgian winger is set to open a new chapter in his career in what could be described as a big career leap from Rennes to the Premier League and European champions.
Speaking on his unveiling as Manchester City new player, Doku expressed his excitement saying he is a perfect match for the league and has been following Premier League actions.
“I’m very excited, like the Premier League is a league that I always watch with my dad and my brother and on Sunday evening, Match of the Day,” he said.
“And I think it’s a league that suits me so it will be a perfect match.”
Doku also added his spells in Belgian and French leagues were preparatories for him to make the subsequent big move to the Premier League and he is confident of a big start with the help of the coaches and staff at City.
“I always knew that the Premier League was made and built for me”, he said.
“I played in Belgium, I played in France and I think that those were the right steps to prepare me for the Premier League.
“I can tell you now that I’m ready, but I will have to see.
“But I’m really confident. I have a lot of confidence in myself. So I think, with the help of the coaches and staff and the team, we’ll be going good.”
The signing of Jeremy Doku draws the curtain on an imminent bidding war that was set to take center stage as top Premier League clubs indicated interests in the player this summer.
Jeremy Doku was strongly linked to a move to Arsenal this summer. Liverpool were also reportedly on the trail of the French youngster since last season.
Todd Boehly, who is not buckling down on his humongous transfer spending so far, was also interested in adding the player to his long list of recruits this summer.
Amid the array of interests milling around the prolific winger, sources close to the player revealed Doku did not want a move to any other club if not Manchester City.
The Belgian youngster is said to have been on the radar of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who is a big admirer of the player’s composure and balance with the ball.
Although mainly deployed as a right-winger, Doku can play on the left wing. He is a right footer but maintains a strong left foot with the ball and possesses a cutting edge dribbling prowess that makes him unbeatable on one-on-one situations coupled with a great technical skills.
Pep Guardiola is said to have personally back the signing of Doku to offset the exit of Riyad Mahrez, who left the club for Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia after losing his starting berth.
Also, with the exit of IIkay Gundogan to Barcelona and the injury blow of Kevin De Bruyne, Doku is another big addition to the squad.
He is the third big name to join the club this summer after the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig.
Doku made his professional debut for Anderlecht at the age of 16. He struck 6 times in 37 appearances for the club before joining Rennes in 2020, where he scored 12 goals with 10 assists in 92 appearances.
