Leicester City have signed striker Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City on a five-year contract, the Premier League clubs have said.
No financial terms were disclosed, but British media reported that Leicester paid 25 million pounds for the 20-year-old Nigerian and that City had inserted a 50 million pound buy-back clause into his contract.
He’s signed! ?@67Kelechi joins #lcfc on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee: https://t.co/iormp1FlQf#WelcomeKelechi pic.twitter.com/wgZMPpn3tG
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 3, 2017
#WelcomeKelechi pic.twitter.com/FcoO4QFStk
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 3, 2017
He is Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare’s fourth signing since the end of last season; following the arrivals of centre back Harry Maguire, goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic and midfielder Vicente Iborra.
“It’s a great signing for us. Kelechi is an enormously talented player that has shown a huge amount of promise at every level in which he’s played,” Shakespeare told Leicester’s website.
Iheanacho, who has scored 21 goals in 64 appearances for Manchester City, made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2015 and has scored six times in 10 appearances for his country.
While he struggled for minutes after City signed Brazilian Gabriel Jesus last season, he was also a target for West Ham United and Shakespeare spoke of his delight in beating Leicester’s Premier League rivals to his signature.
“We’ve tracked his progress for some time, so we know how much quality he’ll bring to the squad,” the manager added.
“He’s young, he’s hungry, he’s ready for the next stage of his development and I’m delighted that will be with Leicester City.”
Iheanacho told to LCFC TV: “It feels good and I’m happy to be part of this team. I know the ambition of the team and speaking with the manager, he let me know what I need to do – to help the team achieve what they want. I was convinced and I’m happy to be here.”
He will wear the number eight shirt and joins fellow Nigeria internationals Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa at the 2016 Premier League champions.
City said in a statement: “Everyone at Manchester City wishes Kelechi all the best with his new challenge.”
