Riyad Mahrez is now Africa’s most-expensive player in Europe following a £60m switch from Leicester City to Manchester City.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang previously held that title after he joined Arsenal for around £55m.
Mahrez’s deal also eclipses more than the previous record outlay the Citizens paid Atletico Madrid for French defender Aymeric Laporte in January.
The 27-year-old, who won the Premier League title with Leicester in 2016, said he had moved to The Etihad stadium for the chance to win more silverware and improve his own game.
“I am so pleased to have joined City, a side playing great football under Pep Guardiola,” said Mahrez, who played 179 times for Leicester, scoring 48 goals.
“Pep is committed to playing attacking football, which is perfect for me, and City’s performances last season were outstanding. They’re redefining the English game and I wanted to be a part of it.
I think we can be successful over the coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep’s management.”
Mahrez was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year after scoring 17 league goals in 37 matches as unfashionable Leicester shocked the soccer world by winning the Premier League two years ago.
He wanted to move in January and handed in a transfer request but ended up staying with Leicester when the club’s valuation ended City’s interest.”Over the past few years, he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting players,” said City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain.
“We’re sure he will bring additional attacking quality to our squad.”
Cedric Bakambu’s £60m pounds Chinese move is the overall biggest on the continent’s.
