Manuel Akanji joins Manchester City’s defense

By Larry John Brown

Published: September 1, 2022 | 2:20 PM GMT

Manchester City bolstered their injury-ravaged defense on Thursday by acquiring Swiss international Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.

Following the recent injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake, Akanji will provide the Premier League winners with additional defensive depth.

Akanji, who reportedly cost City £17 million, told the club’s website, “I am overjoyed to be here and cannot wait to get started.”

“In recent years, City has been one of the finest teams in Europe. They are wonderful to watch, play an exciting kind of football, and consistently fight for championships, so joining them feels like the ideal next step in my career.”

After joining Dortmund in 2018 from Basel, the 27-year-old spent four-and-a-half seasons there.

Akanji is City’s sixth summer signing after Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez, and Stefan Ortiz Moreno, all of whom were his former Dortmund teammates.

Manchester City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, commented on Akanji’s time at Dortmund, where he evolved into a very excellent defender capable of performing in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

“He possesses all the qualities we desire in a center-back. He is powerful, quick, at ease in possession, has a fantastic passing range, and will compliment the other defenders on our team and our playing style.”

Both Akanji and Haaland might potentially meet their previous club on September 14, as Dortmund is scheduled to play City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League group stage.

About Larry John Brown

Larry John is a talented writer and journalist based in New York, USA. He is a valued contributor to TDPel Media, where he creates engaging and informative content for readers. Larry has a keen interest in current events, business, and technology, and he enjoys exploring these topics in-depth to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the issues. His writing style is characterized by its clarity, precision, and attention to detail, which make his articles a pleasure to read. Larry’s passion for storytelling has earned him a reputation as a skilled writer and a respected authority in his field.