Man City confirm first January transfer with £12.5m fee paid

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Caludio Echeverri from River Plate.

The highly rated 18-year-old is the club's first arrival of the January window, but he might not play for another 12 months as he returns to River Plate on loan until January 2025.

City have paid £12.5m for Echeverri, plus add-ons, and he has signed a deal at the Etihad until 2028.

This is the third January window in a row in which City have completed a deal for a youthful talent from Argentina. Two years ago, Julian Alvarez was signed from River Plate and was also sent back to the Buenos Aires club for a short loan. Maximo Perrone also joined City 12 months ago and is currently on loan at Las Palmas.

Echeverri only made his senior debut in June and has played six times for River Plate. But the midfielder has impressed on the international stage and has earned 22 caps for the Under-17s.

He captained the Argentina side that made it to the semi-finals of the Under-17 World Cup last year and scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final win over Brazil. Pep Guardiola is expected to give his verdict on the transfer when he speaks in Thursday's press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

"Everyone at Manchester City is looking forward to welcoming Claudio to the Club and we wish him the best of luck in his remaining time with River," the club said via their website as the transfer was confirmed.

Echeverri is expected to be the only senior arrival of a quiet January, although Kalvin Phillips' loan move to West Ham United will be confirmed on Thursday.