Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig with the centre-back set to become the world’s most expensive defender.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in negotiations with Leipzig over a deal for the Croatia international, who is keen on a move to the Premier League from the Bundesliga. The deal will be worth an initial €100m (£86m) before add-ons, a figure that will make Gvardiol the most expensive defender of all time.
The 21-year-old has forged a reputation as one of Europe’s best young defenders at Leipzig, for who he has made 88 appearances in all competitions across the last two seasons and won the DFB-Pokal in consecutive campaigns.
Gvardiol was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season in 2022/23 and also impressed as Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last winter.
The Telegraph are reporting that a deal is expected to be concluded in the coming days with Leipzig sporting director, Max Eberl, having confirmed that talks are at an advanced stage.
“Gvardiol and his agents gave us their desire to move to Manchester City. We are in talks with City,” Eberl said.
“Yes, for €100 million plus bonuses, Gvardiol will end up in Pep’s strong hands. The value of the deal would make Gvardiol the most expensive defender in history. But it might take a few more days.”
Gvardiol’s sale will be Leipzig’s third high-profile exit to the Premier League this summer, after Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai completed transfers to Chelsea and Liverpool respectively.
