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City have completed the signing of Portuguese international Ruben Dias from Benfica.
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Confirmed the number of the Dias template
The 23-year-old defender has signed a six-year contract, which will keep him at the Club until the summer of 2026.
Following in the footsteps of Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake, he is our third signing of the summer.
Dias has played more than 100 games in three seasons with the Lisbon giants, with whom he won a league title in 2018/19 and has been capped 19 times with Portugal.
Having developed a reputation as one of the most promising defenders in Europe, he says that moving to City was an easy decision, as he feels he is joining a club where he can improve and succeed.
“Having the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me and one that I couldn’t turn down,” he said.
Its success speaks for itself. They have been the dominant team in England for the past few years, playing offensive football that I think suits my own game.
“It is really exciting to be part of such a talented team and to play for a world-class coach like Pep Guardiola, who has a proven track record in developing young players like me.
“I think I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions coincide with mine and I will give everything to succeed and win titles.”
Football Director Txiki Begiristain added: “Rubén is a player we have admired for a while and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica.
“He has become a true leader and as a defender he has all the attributes we are looking for. He’s strong in the air, good in one-on-one situations, and technically very good, so we’re confident that he can thrive in our system.
“He is young but has experience playing for a top European club at Benfica and we are very happy to have signed him.
“He is another talented addition to the team and someone who will only get better working with Pep.”
A product of the famed Benfica academy, which also developed new teammates and compatriots Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo, Dias has already achieved a lot in his short career.
Having helped the Eagles under-19 team reach the UEFA Youth League final in 2016/17, he made his first-team debut in a 2-1 loss to Boavista in September 2017 and played 29 games. that season.
He was voted the best young player in the Primeira Liga in 2017/18 and in the following campaign, he really established himself in the defense of the heart, playing 55 times in all competitions and helping Benfica to 37th league title.
Last season, Dias played 49 games and scored three goals, as he was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Season.
The defender has also won team and individual awards internationally.
Having made his debut for Portugal against Tunisia in May 2018, he was an unused member of the team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but 12 months later he proved instrumental in his country’s triumph in the UEFA Nations League.
The youngster played the full 90 minutes in the last four against Switzerland and in the 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final, where he was named Man of the Match and included in the Team of the Tournament.
Everyone at Manchester City is delighted to welcome Ruben to the Club and wishes him the best of luck during his time with us.
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