Manchester City have confirmed they have signed Fulham wonderkid Patrick Roberts.
It was revealed last month that City were in advanced talks with Fulham over a deal for Roberts with an offer of £5 million rising to £10m with add-ons.
On Saturday Fulham boss Kit Symons confirmed that Roberts had decided to leave the club and now City have sealed the signing of an 18-year-old regarded as one of the brightest talents of his age group.
Manchester City are delighted to announce the signing of @patrick7roberts from @FulhamFC. #mcfcpic.twitter.com/Gg9pm7Kh7S
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 19, 2015
Roberts becomes City’s third high-profile English signing of the summer after the arrivals of Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph as they continue their home-grown recruitment drive.
The 18-year-old is not expected to form part of City’s first-team squad, and it is not yet clear whether he will be loaned out in order to secure regular senior football next season.
Roberts, a boyhood Liverpool fan, made just two senior starts in the Championship last season as Fulham battled to preserve their survival in the second tier but was considered the jewel of a talented youth side that reached the FA Youth Cup final in 2014.
He also played a key role in England’s triumph at the European Under-17 Championships last year.