Manchester City has reached a deal with French club Rennes to acquire Belgian winger Jeremy Doku for a fee of £55 million.
The 21-year-old is expected to be eligible for selection by Pep Guardiola as the Premier League champions take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this Sunday.
Doku has been a target for City since the middle of last season, and the interest intensified following Riyad Mahrez’s surprising departure to Al-Ahli last month.
The Belgian, who has earned 14 caps for his country, comes highly recommended by his compatriot Kevin De Bruyne.
The signing of Doku comes after Guardiola acknowledged over the weekend that his squad required additional reinforcements.
Doku scored six goals for Rennes in Ligue 1 last season and is known for his intense pressing. He found the net as Rennes defeated Metz 5-1 on the opening day of the campaign, but was an unused substitute during Sunday’s draw with Lens as his move to the Etihad Stadium drew closer.
Doku’s arrival will push City’s summer spending beyond £150 million, following the signings of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic for the Premier League champions.
