City strike deal for Silva

Manchester City FC have struck a deal with Valencia CF for the services of Spain winger David Silva, with the 24-year-old moving to England for a reported €30m fee.

Silva has agreed a four-year contract with Manchester City and will officially become part of Roberto Mancini's squad following the end of his participation at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. "This is a very special moment for me because I'm leaving my lifelong club – the place where I grew as a person and as a player," Silva said.

"However, I'm also excited to be starting a huge project in the Premier League with Manchester City," added the player capped 37 times by Spain. "I have nothing but good words for Valencia and my team-mates, coaches and the fans who have given me so much."

Silva rose through the ranks at Valencia and, after seasons on loan at SD Eibar and then RC Celta de Vigo, made his debut in 2006. He missed just two Liga games in his first campaign at the Mestalla and went on to play 119 top-flight matches for Los Blanquinegros, scoring 21 goals. The attacking midfielder first appeared for the senior Spain team four years ago and was a key part of their UEFA EURO 2008 triumph.

He becomes the third high-profile name to leave the Mestalla this summer following the departures of David Villa for FC Barcelona and Nikola Žigić to Birmingham City FC. While City will enter August's UEFA Europa League play-offs, Valencia return to the UEFA Champions League, going straight into the group stage.