Manchester City have finally completed the protracted signing of Samir Nasri from Arsenal.

City have been chasing the France midfielder for most of the summer and on Wednesday afternoon announced his capture on a four-year contract.

 

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 Barclays 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 Wednesday night’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.”

 

Champions Manchester United were also linked with Nasri but City always seemed the more likely destination.

 

Arsenal had been reluctant to part company with one of their prized assets - particularly so soon after losing former captain Cesc Fabregas - but Nasri’s determination to leave appears to have forced their hand.

 

Nasri was withdrawn from the Arsenal squad for Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Udinese and instead allowed to travel to Manchester to discuss terms.

 

Playing in that game would have cup-tied him and therefore reduced his value.

 

Arsenal have at least made profit on the player they signed from his hometown Marseille for £15.8million in 2008.

 

His outstanding form last season, in which he scored 15 goals and was nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award, made him an attractive target for other clubs.

 

Yet despite his brilliance, it remains to be seen how Mancini will best deploy his latest acquisition in a side already brimming with exciting talent.

 

Mancini added: “He’s a player maybe like David Silva but the difference from David is he can play also in the middle.

 

“Samir can play like a midfielder but he can play also near the striker because he has technique, he can score, he can assist.”

 

When asked if Nasri and Spain playmaker Silva can play together, Mancini added: “Yes. They can play one left and one right.

 

“They are not wingers but David starts always like a winger and then goes in the middle, plays where the ball is, near the striker.”

 

It might also not be the end of big-spending City’s summer recruitment drive with Mancini recently saying he would like to make two or three signings before this month’s transfer deadline.

 

The club are also conscious, however, of their obligations under UEFA’s financial fair play rules and any moves would require careful consideration.

 

Chelsea have completed the signing of Valencia winger Juan Mata on a five-year deal.

 

The 23-year-old becomes Andre Villas-Boas’ fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois.

 

Mata could make his debut in Saturday’s clash with Norwich and moves to Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of £23.5million.

 

“Right from the first moment there have been good feelings all around me,” Mata told the club’s official website.

 

“Training has been great and the players are a great group to train with.

 

“Valencia was a big club anyway but I have left to join a bigger club and it is all about the opportunity to win trophies and I have that here.”

 

Mata becomes the third Spaniard at the Blues, linking up with the aforementioned Romeu and fellow Spain international Fernando Torres.

 

“Fernando got me excited about the thought of coming here,” Mata said.

 

“He said it would be good for me here and that me and him together could be good.

“I also talked to my family and friends about it as well.”

 

The former Real Madrid winger’s father, also named Juan Mata, played professionally for Burgos and Salamanca, leading the player to add: “This is obviously a big thing for me, to have a father who knows football.

 

“He has always given me good advice and I never had a problem because he was there to help.

 

“Despite there being football in my family, I always wanted to have skills other than football so I studied while I was in Madrid.

 

“It wasn’t easy but I wanted to do it, and I learned about marketing and sports science.”

 

While Torres and his father had an influence on his move to west London, Mata admits it was manager Villas-Boas that ultimately made him decide to end his four-year spell at the Mestalla.

 

“He said he wanted Chelsea this season to play more attacking football, and that I would be a big part of that,” he added.

 

“Villas-Boas is someone who won almost everything last year and we are both here with the idea of winning lots this season.

 

“The plan is that I can play on either flank or even in the middle playing in between the lines of midfield and attack.

 

“I like to keep the ball and use it well, I am an attacking player and above all I like to set up goals and score them also.

 

“I want to adapt as quickly as possible to my new surroundings, my colleagues and this league, and I would love to win a trophy in my first season.

 

“If it can be the Premier League then great.”

 

The move brings a quick conclusion to the transfer after Valencia accepted an offer on Sunday evening. Mata trained with his new team-mates for at Cobham earlier on Wednesday and could feature for Villas-Boas’ side this weekend. (ESPNstar)