Nicolas Otamendi joins Manchester City from Valencia on five-year deal

Premier League leaders Manchester City have confirmed their third signing of the summer transfer window in the form of Nicholas Otamendi from Valencia. The 27-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium after just 18 months in La Liga.

Otamendi reinforces the centre of a leaky City defence that already includes captain Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis. City conceded 38 league goals last term, more than any of their top-four rivals.

After spells at Velez Sarsfield and FC Porto, Otamendi moved to Valencia in February 2014 and after his first full season was named in the Spanish top flight's team of the season as the club qualified for the Champions League. However, after a year and a half at the Mestalla, the Argentina international has found the lure of English football too tempting to turn down.

"I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles," the player told the City official website. "That's the most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream."

Joining Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph in moving to the two-time Premier League champions, the four-time Portuguese league winner becomes the sixth Argentine to move to City, joining Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta, Willy Caballero, Bruno Zuculini and Demichelis. Manager Manuel Pellegrini is delighted to have his defensive options bolstered.

"Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I'm delighted to have added a player of his quality," he said. "He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.

"As a footballer, Nicolas has all of the qualities to be a success in the Premier League – he's strong, he's excellent in the tackle and he's very good technically. I am sure he will become another Argentine player our fans will enjoy watching."