Manchester City has finalized the acquisition of the highly regarded Argentina under-23 midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate, as announced by the club on Thursday.
The 18-year-old has committed to a contract with the Premier League champions until June 2028.
However, he will continue his tenure at River Plate until next January before making the move to City.
According to sources cited by ESPN, the deal is valued at approximately £12.5 million ($15.9 million), with additional add-ons.
Echeverri, identified by sources as having attracted interest from Barcelona, served as the captain of Argentina during the under-17 World Cup last year. He played a pivotal role in their journey to the semifinals, where they faced a penalty shootout defeat against Germany.
Echeverri showcased his goal-scoring prowess in the U17 World Cup, netting five goals, including a hat trick against Brazil in the quarterfinal. He was recognised with the Bronze Ball award as the tournament’s third-highest scorer.
Having made his debut for River Plate in June of the previous year, Echeverri made an instant impact, providing an assist in a 3-1 victory over Instituto. In total, he has accumulated six first-team appearances for the Argentine giants.
The agreement City has reached for Echeverri mirrors the arrangement used for Julián Álvarez, who joined the Etihad from River Plate in January 2022.
Álvarez stayed in South America until the subsequent summer, making his Premier League debut in August 2022.
Since then, he has played a role in City’s victories in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup. Additionally, he was part of the Argentina squad that secured the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.