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Manchester City snap up Fernandinho

Fernandinho will cost Manchester City around £30 million © PA Photos

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Manchester City have officially announced the signing of Brazil international Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk for an undisclosed fee, and he will become a City player on July 1.

Fernandinho, 28, has long been a target of City's, and the path was cleared for him to join the 2012 Premier League champions when Shakhtar completed deals for Brazil midfielders Fernando and Wellington Nem, from Gremio and Fluminense respectively.

Those two deals could also pave the way for Liverpool to make a bid for the Ukrainian club's £22 million-rated attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

City have not revealed the fee paid for Fernandinho but reports this week suggested he could cost in the region of £34m.

The box-to-box midfielder told Man City's official website: "This is a change, a challenge and a chance that I have been waiting a long time for. Playing in the Premier League for City is like a dream.

"My ambition here is to win all the titles, the team here is strong, and so is the greatness of the club and the supporters. Professionally this is a spectacular thing. Playing for a huge club in a huge league makes me so happy. I hope I will be able to repay City for what they have done for me.

"I know I will face challenges but I am prepared for them. Every player at a high level faces pressure and must respond and I am ready for that too. I know a lot about City. Ever since they expressed an interest in me, I have been learning more."

City are also set to sign Sevilla winger Jesus Navas after a €20m deal was agreed and the Spain international confirmed he is heading for England.

They are expected to appoint Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini as their new head coach at the start of next week.

Fernandinho was tipped for stardom after scoring the winner for Brazil in the final of the 2003 World Youth Championship. He is a deep-lying playmaker who has been playing for Shakhtar since a £7m move in 2005. He has helped the club to six Ukrainian league titles as well as UEFA Cup success in 2009.

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