Manchester City sign Fernando: City snap up Porto midfielder for £12m

City have been chasing the 26-year-old for more than a year

Porto's Fernando could join Manchester City by the end of the week (Getty Images)

Manchester City have signed Porto midfielder Fernando for £12m.

The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has long been a target for City and they failed with a bid in January.

Porto released a short statement on Wednesday night confirming the the Brazilian will leave.

The club sent a letter to the stock exchange confirming the transaction, with a photo of the letter being posted on the Portuguese stock exchange website.

Fernando is the second signing of the summer for Manuel Pellegrini's title winners, he follows Bacary Sagna, who arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal, through the door.

Fernando is yet to win a cap for Brazil and applied for clearance to play for the Portugal team. But his application was rejected as he played for Brazil Under-20s and did not hold Portuguese nationality at that time.

In his seven years at Porto Fernando won four Primeira Liga titles, two Portuguese Cups and the Europa League, part of a treble in 2011.