Delph complete Man City move

London

England midfielder Fabian Delph is leaving Aston Villa to join Manchester City, the two Premier League clubs announced yesterday, just days after insisting he would be staying at Villa Park.

City confirmed on their website that the 25-year-old Delph had agreed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and had completed a medical.

"Fabian Delph has exercised the release clause in his contract and will join Manchester City," said Villa in a statement, with press reports saying they had received a fee of £8 million ($12.5m, 11.5m euros).

Delph, who did not fly out for Villa's pre-season training camp in Portugal as his wife is pregnant, will now be left to explain his sudden change of heart less than a week after issuing a strong statement via Villa's website accompanied by a picture of him pointing to his captain's armband.

Delph signed a new Villa contract earlier this year with his previous deal having been due to expire this summer, but the deal was understood to include a release clause which City met.

He began his career with Leeds United before joining Villa in 2009 as a teenager, and captained the Birmingham outfit last season under Tim Sherwood.

"Fabian Delph is an excellent player, and I am looking forward to working with him," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

"He has made a huge impact in recent seasons at Aston Villa, and is now one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League.