Argentina youth international Claudio Echeverri has finalized his permanent transfer to Manchester City, over a year after initially signing with the English champions and subsequently returning to River Plate on loan.
The 19-year-old Echeverri is expected to inject youthful vigor into a City squad that has already seen a rejuvenation during the winter transfer window with the addition of five predominantly young players.
As an attacking midfielder, Echeverri recently showcased his talent in the South American Under-20 Championship, where he scored six goals in nine matches, making him the tournament's second-highest scorer.
He originally joined City in January 2024 but spent the past year on loan at River Plate as part of the transfer agreement.
Txiki Begiristain, the director of football at City, praised Echeverri as “one of the finest talents to emerge from South America in recent years.”
“Football has been my life,” Echeverri said, “and my dream was to play for one of the best teams in Europe. Today I am closer to that dream.
“Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world. Not only do they win trophies, they play the game so beautifully.”
Echeverri has signed a contract that extends until 2028 and will join City’s squad for the remainder of the current season.
City, the reigning Premier League champions, invested over $200 million in the recent winter transfer window, acquiring five players: midfielder Nico Gonzalez, defenders Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Christian McFarlane, along with Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush.
City manager Pep Guardiola noted last week that refreshing the squad, which has secured the last four Premier League titles, may necessitate the departure of injury-prone veterans who are finding it challenging to keep up with the rigorous demands of the sport.