City sign Adebayor

Manchester City on Saturday said they had clinched the 25 million pound (35 million euros) signing of Togolese forward Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal on a five-year contract.

The 25-year-old Adebayor completed his medical test at Eastlands to become the latest big-money new face at City, after the recent captures of midfielder Gareth Barry and strikers Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz.

Hundreds of City fans greeted Adebayor, who said: “It made me feel really welcome and special and I can’t wait to play for City’s fans and show them what I can do.

“I was born to play football and that is what I want to do. I have come here to make history for this club and those supporters,” he told reporters.

“It is what the chairman and the manager told me that they want too and I can’t wait to get started.”

City coach Mark Hughes waxed lyrical about the forward, whom Arsene Wenger brought to Arsenal for just five million euros from Monaco in 2006.

“Emmanuel has been one of the top forwards in the Premier League since he arrived from France and we are delighted he has agreed to come and join us,” Hughes told club website www.mcfc.co.uk.

“Along with the other signings we have made in the last two windows he will greatly enhance our ability to compete with the top sides.

“His arrival is another clear indication that we are determined to augment the players we have here with the best of international talent.

“He adds vital balance and power to our attack. He has everything a top forward needs. He is versatile, powerful, quick and agile on the ball.

“He will definitely add a new dimension to our play. I have been a great admirer for a long time.”