Nasri pens four-year City deal

Published Aug. 24, 2011 7:16 p.m. ET

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City have been chasing the France midfielder for most of the summer and this afternoon announced his capture. The fee for the 24-year-old has not yet been disclosed but is thought to be around the £24million mark. The capture of Nasri, who could make his debut in this Sunday's Premier League game at Tottenham, continues City's remarkable spending of recent years. He is the club's fourth major signing of the summer transfer window following the club record £38million purchase of Sergio Aguero and defenders Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy. Nasri had just one year remaining on his contract at Arsenal, whom he joined in 2008, and the London club have agreed to sell now rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. Champions and rivals Manchester United were also reportedly interested in Nasri but the Etihad Stadium always seemed the more likely destination. After months of speculation Arsenal yesterday announced they had reached a deal with City for the player's transfer. Nasri trained with the Gunners for the final time yesterday morning before being omitted from their squad for tonight's Champions League qualifier against Udinese. Arsenal have been reluctant to part with one of their prized assets - whose departure follows that of former captain Cesc Fabregas - and City may well have pulled out had Nasri become cup-tied. That could have cost the London club a huge transfer fee with Nasri having made clear his desire to leave by refusing a new deal. Nasri is a product of the Marseille youth system and made his debut for the French club at the age of 17. Last season was his best since his £15.8million move to Arsenal, with 15 goals and a nomination for Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year. It remains to be seen whether this deal will mark the end of City's summer spending with manager Roberto Mancini recently saying he would like to make two or three more signings before this month's transfer deadline. For Mancini, the capture signals the end of a five-year pursuit of Nasri. He told www.mcfc.co.uk: "He's a fantastic player because he has technique, he has mentality. "I knew him when he played for Marseille. I followed him when I was at Inter and we wanted to take him five years ago. "But I think in the last few years in the Premier League he's improved a lot. Now I think he's a top player."