Man City defender set for '£8m La Liga' exit amid significant buyback and sell-on clause claims
The latest transfer talk from Manchester City as one defender closes in on a move away from the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City are reportedly close to agreeing a deal that will see defender Sergio Gomez join La Liga club Real Sociedad.
The Spain Under-21 international moved to the Etihad in an £11m deal from Belgian club Anderlecht during the summer of 2022 and has made 32 appearances in all competitions over the last two seasons. However, the former Spain Under-21 international was only named in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI on 14 occasions and has been the subject of interest from a number of clubs across Europe in recent weeks.
There was speculation Gomez’s time at the Etihad could have been brought to a close last summer after he struggled to make a meaningful impact during his first season at the club. But the left-back expressed his determination to impress Guardiola upon his return to pre-season training and secure more regular appearances.
When asked about his future and what Guardiola had told him by Spanish outlet AS, Gomez responded: “I haven’t talked to him about the next season, but I want to stay there. I’m going to go from the first day of the preseason with a lot of desire to show him that I can have more minutes. The idea is to stay there. It is my wish.”
Gomez did remain with City as Guardiola’s side claimed the Premier League title for a fourth consecutive season but continued to be linked with an exit after making just four starts in all competitions, and it now seems that move has taken a step closer. The Daily Mail have reported City are close to agreeing an £8m deal with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad - and are also negotiating a buy-back clause and a sell-on clause in the agreement.
Gomez will hope returning to his home country for the first time since he enjoyed a two-year loan spell at Huesca between 2019 and 2021 when he was contracted to German giants Borussia Dortmund, will reignite his career and help him gain a spot in the senior Spain squad.
The former Barcelona academy product has represented Spain at every youth level and has also been named in their squad as an overage player for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. Former City youngster Eric Garcia and Barcelona’s highly-rated defender Pau Cubarsi have also been named in the squad as the Spanish prepare to face the United States, Uzbekistan, Dominican Republic and Egypt later this month.
The tournament will also see Pep Guardiola lose the services of forward Julian Alvarez after he was named in the Argentina squad alongside former City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi. They will play two friendlies in France over the next fortnight before facing Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine in Group B.