Manchester: Portuguese defender Ruben Dias has joined Manchester City from SL Benfica for a reported fee of 68m euros. The deal includes City defender Nicolas Otamendi going to Benfica for 15m euros. City unveiled the signing on their social media.
“I believe I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions match my own and I will give everything to be successful and win titles.”
Sounds like a plan to us, Ruben! 😍📸 pic.twitter.com/Vm1j3tV1qn
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 29, 2020
The 22-year-old came through the ranks of the Benfica academy making debut for them back in 2017 claiming the best young player of the year in Primeira Liga while making 137 appearances for the senior side. He was also the part of the Portugal side that won the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
As per reports, Ruben has penned a contract for six years and is considered one of the best young defenders in the world. Since former captain Vincent Kompany’s exit and Ayomeric Laporte being unavailable for various reasons, manager Pep Guardiola and City were in desperate need of a quality center-back and managed to lock the deal of Dias with the hopes of adding stability to the defence.
