City signs Benjani

[Lemmy]

Zimbabwe striker Benjani's protracted move from Portsmouth to Manchester City has been resolved with Pompey to receive an initial fee of £3.87m.

The 29-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with City after passing a medical on Monday.

If Benjani makes 75 senior starts Pompey will receive a total of £7.6m.

"I'm delighted we have signed such a quality player, and I am looking forward to working with him," said City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The on-off transfer saga had been in doubt after City tried to pull out of the deal, expressing concern about a knee injury Benjani had surgery on 18 months ago.

City said the striker had arrived in Manchester too late to complete the deal before last Thursday's midnight transfer deadline.

Pompey called in the Premier League and, upon examining the relevant paperwork, officials were satisfied that the deal had been completed by the close of the transfer window on 31 January.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man City | Benjani completes Man City move

[Lemmy]

Good signing for City for a reasonable price. I've been impressed with Benjani's performance this season.

[unitedfan]

Did the price drop since deadline day, with City's worries over Benjani's fitness? Redknapp said that the plan for Portsmouth was to get £9m for Benjani and spend it on Defoe. I'm wondering if that means Portsmouth will have got a similar deal on Defoe, because to spend £9m on a good player, when you've just sold a good player on red-hot form for an initial £4m doesn't seem good dealing. Although I suppose Defoe has years on Benjani.

Good signing for City in any case, imo. Benjani has a good work rate, and Sven's intention to use him as a lone striker comes most likely because of that. It'l be interesting to see if his form continues after the switch, and how long for.