Man City confirm signing of Maximo Perrone from Velez Sarsfield

Manchester City have completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Maximo Perrone from Velez Sarsfeld.

City have paid around £8.2m to land the talented prospect, who only turned 20 in January. He will link up with the first team to train once he is finished at the Under-20 Championships with Argentina, where he is currently competing.

The player is seen as a potential option for the future, and a decision will be made at the end of the season after months of training with Pep Guardiola’s squad whether to keep the player at the Etihad next season or to send him on loan.

City have enjoyed major success in signing South American talent in recent years. The club doubled their money on Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus after getting five-and-a-half years out of the former Palmeiras man, while World Cup winner Julian Alvarez already looks to have proven himself as a bargain after his January switch from River Plate.

The £8.2m deal is likely to be the biggest City do in the January transfer window, with no major first-team additions planned as they look to chase down Arsenal in the Premier League and go for Champions League glory.

There is the potential for some outgoing loan deals in the academy, but Guardiola is expected to stick with the same squad that he has had in the first half of the season.