Manchester City break world record for second time this summer

Manchester City have announced they have signed Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy in a deal worth £52m that will make him the most expensive defender in the history of football.

Pep Guardiola’s side only made Kyle Walker the most expensive-ever defender earlier this month but the City manager has broken the record for a second time this summer as he looks to complete a stunning squad overhaul worth more than £200m.

City have been heavily linked with a move for Mendy all summer and have finally got their first choice left-back on a five-year deal that will run until June 2022.

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City,” Mendy told the club’s official website. “They are one of Europe’s leading clubs and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager committed to playing attacking football.

“I am sure that over the next few years we will be successful.”

Mendy is the second Monaco player to join City this summer following the arrival of Bernardo Silva at the start of the transfer window in a deal worth a reported £43m.

Mendy has made more accurate crosses from open play (116) than any other Ligue 1 player since August 2014.