Manchester City have added to their collection of strikers by signing Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor on a five-year deal for a fee of about ££25m.
The 25-year-old joins fellow new signings Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez at Eastlands. And with Robinho, Craig Bellamy, Valeri Bojinov and Benjani also on their books, City have an embarrassment of riches up front.
The Togo striker, who takes City's summer spending to around £80m, passed a medical on Saturday and had already been successful in arranging a work permit.
Adebayor, who was also linked with linked to AC Milan and Chelsea, spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Gunners after joining them from Monaco for £7m, scoring 62 goals in 142 games.
He scored 30 goals in the 2007-08 season but struggled with injuries in the last campaign and also incurred the wrath of some Arsenal fans, who felt the striker lacked commitment.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said he was sorry to see Adebayor leave, but insisted he had no immediate plans to replace him.
Gooner Adds :
Adebayor was a big talent, but his 30-goal season two years ago seemed to change the man, and with AC Milan in the picture, money has been the main aim for the big man (and his agent entourage) ever since.
Performances last year were lack-lustre to say the least, and he seemed to be sulking (almost as much as Berbatov did in his final months at Spurs) in order to agitate a big money move.
Rumours are that Adebayor will be on around about £170K per week (or £9m per year) - and that's twice as much as he'd earn at Arsenal.
Frankly, I am pleased to see an unhappy player leave, especially at a £19m profit for the club, but Wenger needs to invest it back into the team in experienced players rather than young potential players if Arsenal are to compete this season.
Whether it's a good buy for Man City? We will have to wait and see.
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