Manchester City is pleased to announce the acquisition of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, solidifying a five-year contract.
Gvardiol, aged 21, marks the second addition to the squad during this summer’s transfer window, gearing up for the upcoming 2023/24 season. His signing follows that of fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.
Similar to Kovacic’s trajectory, Gvardiol embarked on his professional journey at Dinamo Zagreb, renowned for fostering some of Croatia’s most accomplished talents.
In his tenure of two seasons within his home country, Gvardiol secured two Croatian League championships, one Croatian Cup, and a Croatian Super Cup before transitioning to RB Leipzig in Germany.
Having participated in 87 matches for the Red Bulls throughout the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, Gvardiol notably contributed five goals and celebrated victory in securing two DFB-Pokal trophies.
Furthermore, Gvardiol’s impressive record extends to the international stage, as he has earned 21 caps representing Croatia. Notably, his performance played a pivotal role in Croatia’s commendable third-place finish in the 2022 World Cup finals held in Qatar.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Gvardiol shared his excitement about joining the Premier League. He eagerly anticipates commencing his journey under the guidance of Manchester City’s new manager, Pep Guardiola.
“I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me.
“Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.
“To be joining City is something very special for me and my family.
“To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing. I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.
“To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “We are very happy to bring Josko to Manchester City.
“He is a player we have watched closely, and we feel he has a superb set of attributes.
“Top clubs all over Europe have been monitoring him, so to bring him here is great news for us.
“Josko has so many qualities – everything you want in a centre-half. He is fast, competitive, combative, strong in the air, impressive in possession of the ball, with strong self-belief and a good character. He is left-footed, too, which offers us good options at the back.
“He is still young but his progress in the game has been rapid. We feel confident his upward trajectory will continue here at City working with Pep and his staff.”