Manchester City have broken their transfer record by splashing out £57million on Athletic Bilbao center-back Aymeric Laporte.

Laporte, 23, has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal to finalize his move to England.

The Premier League leaders triggered his release clause last week which led to Athletic Bilbao pulling Laporte out of their squad to face Eibar on Friday.

Laporte, who will wear the No 14 shirt, said: ‘I am very happy to be here.

‘City are a club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the best teams in Europe.

‘I am looking forward to working with Pep Guardiola and trying to help the club to achieve success.

‘It means a lot that the club has shown faith in me and I am excited to get started.’

Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, added: ‘We are delighted to have signed Aymeric.

‘We have assessed defensive options and he is a player we have admired for a long time.

‘With his quality and ability to play out from the back, we feel Aymeric will fit in perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s playing style.’

Guardiola was keen on adding another center back to his ranks and Laporte will now compete with Vincent Kompany, John Stones, and Nicolas Otamendi.

The French-born defender’s arrival at the Etihad could see Eliaquim Mangala join Newcastle on loan until the end of the season.