Transfer Centre

Aymeric Laporte cleared to join Manchester City in £57m move

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 29 January 2018

Laporte cleared to join Man City in £57m move

French defender Aymeric Laporte thanks Athletic Bilbao for all their support as he confirms that his switch to Manchester City is close to going through.

Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte has confirmed that he is on his way to Manchester City after his £57m release clause was triggered.

The 23-year-old will become the Citizens' club-record signing once agreeing personal terms, surpassing the fee paid to sign Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg (£55m) when factoring in the fluctuating exchange rate.

Laporte, who is understood to have passed a City medical in Bilbao last week, has wished his club of eight years all the best ahead of travelling to Manchester and finalising a big-money switch on either Monday or Tuesday.

"I have a lot to say in very few lines," he said in a statement. "I want to thank you for all that you have given me I came here as a teenager and here I grew up to be an adult and into a footballer.

"I don't want my departure, before beginning a new challenge in my professional career, to be a goodbye, but rather a see-you-soon. Here I leave a unique club, different and which I will never forget."

Athletic youth product Laporte was due to see his contract at San Mames expire at the end of the 2019-20 season.