Nigel de Jong has left Hamburg and joined Manchester City in a deal believed to be worth around £19 million, despite the player had a clause in his Hamburg contract stating he would be available for just £2.3 million at the end of the season.
The Dutch international, who cost just £1 million from Ajax in 2005, is the most expensive player to leave a Bundesliga club.
De Jong, dubbed the vacuum cleaner because he hoovers up in front of the back four, has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the Eastlands club.
The versatile midfielder's capture is further evidence that City are still active in the transfer market, as their executive chairman Garry Cook confirmed earlier.
The 24-year-old becomes City's third signing of the winter transfer window following the arrivals of former Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and ex-West Ham striker Craig Bellamy.
"I feel very good and for me it is the next step in my own career after three years in Germany," de Jong told the club's official website. "I hope to be successful here.
"The ideas and the planning behind this club are very hopeful and it's a new adventure so I'm delighted to be here right now.
"The stadium looks great and I think it can only be better when it's full of people.
"I'm looking forward to playing here and everybody knows that the Premier League is maybe the biggest competition in the world."
De Jong could make his City debut against Newcastle next Wednesday.
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The Dutch international, who cost just £1 million from Ajax in 2005, is the most expensive player to leave a Bundesliga club.
De Jong, dubbed the vacuum cleaner because he hoovers up in front of the back four, has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the Eastlands club.
The versatile midfielder's capture is further evidence that City are still active in the transfer market, as their executive chairman Garry Cook confirmed earlier.
The 24-year-old becomes City's third signing of the winter transfer window following the arrivals of former Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and ex-West Ham striker Craig Bellamy.
"I feel very good and for me it is the next step in my own career after three years in Germany," de Jong told the club's official website. "I hope to be successful here.
"The ideas and the planning behind this club are very hopeful and it's a new adventure so I'm delighted to be here right now.
"The stadium looks great and I think it can only be better when it's full of people.
"I'm looking forward to playing here and everybody knows that the Premier League is maybe the biggest competition in the world."
De Jong could make his City debut against Newcastle next Wednesday.
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