Manchester City have announced the signing of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez from River Plate.

The 22-year-old, who is celebrating his birthday today, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Citizens for a fee believed to be worth around €17m (£14.2m) plus €1.5m (£1.25m) in add-ons.

City have confirmed that Alvarez will remain with River Plate on loan "at least until July 2022".

Commenting on the arrival of Alvarez, Man City's director of football Txiki Begiristain said: "Julian is a player we have monitored for some time. He is capable of operating in a number of attacking roles, and we firmly believe he's one of the best young attacking players in South America.

"I am so happy we have managed to bring him to Manchester City. I really believe we can provide him with the right conditions to fulfil his potential and become a top player."

River Plate have also confirmed the deal at their end, with club president Jorge Brito stating: "For us it is a pride that one of the most important clubs in the world has been interested in a player like Julian Alvarez.

"It is a milestone that marks the beginning of the link between River Plate and Manchester City, which we hope will bear many fruits for both clubs."

Alvarez, an Argentina international, is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in South American football after a brilliant 2021 campaign for River Plate, scoring 24 goals and registering 15 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions.
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