Recently, this column reflected on Manchester City's acquisition of Spanish playmaker David Silva from Valencia in 2010 and how that particular summer sparked a change in mindset among the Etihad Stadium faithful.

Silva had joined promising defender Jerome Boateng in bolstering Roberto Mancini's ranks, but the Italian manager was by no means done.

Those two players reportedly cost a combined fee of £34m, but that did not stop Mancini from dipping into the club's coffers for a further £24m to add a Champions League-winning midfielder to his squad five years ago today.

Yaya Toure had initially been regarded as a key player by Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola following his appointment at Camp Nou in 2008, but as time went on, the Ivorian would become a frequent substitute.

Indeed, during the 2009-10 campaign, Toure featured for 90 minutes just nine times in La Liga, with his place in the holding midfield role having been given to the emerging Sergio Busquets.

An eager Mancini pounced on the availability of the 27-year-old, who signed a five-year deal to join his elder brother Kolo in East Manchester.

"This is another fantastic signing for Manchester City. Everyone knows Yaya is a player that we have admired for a long time," Mancini told the club's official website.

"We would like to welcome him to Manchester City. He has played at the top level with Barcelona and I am sure his experience and ability will be very important for us."

Since then, the midfielder has gone on to prove himself to be a shrewd investment, starting with the 2011 FA Cup final, when he scored the only goal of the game against Stoke City to secure the Citizens their first major trophy in 35 years.

Two Premier League titles have followed that triumph - the latter of which in 2013-14 saw Toure contribute an impressive 20 goals from his deeper role.

Unsurprisingly, his performances that season resulted in him winning numerous club awards, as well as being named in the Premier League Team of the Year for a second time.

There had been suggestions that he would be on the move this summer, but Toure recently ended that speculation by insisting that he was to remain a City player for at least the next 12 months.