Sibierski completes £700,000 move to City

Kevin Keegan has made the French playmaker, Antoine Sibierski, his fifth summer signing for Manchester City after persuading Lens to part with their key player.

Sibierski, who signed a three-year deal after Lens and City agreed a fee of about £700,000, could make his first appearance for City tonight in a pre-season friendly away to Rochdale, but his presence is dependent on his registration being completed.

"Antoine has passed his medical and the terms are done," Keegan said after watching City beat Oldham Athletic 6-0. "We have not been able to register him with the French FA offices being closed at the weekend. I am hoping to get him registered so that he can come with us to Rochdale.

"I will take the same squad to Rochdale which we had at Oldham so if the fans want to come and see us they can, though I know it is not cheap. Antoine could be added to the squad providing we get the clearance through and that can only happen providing the French FA respond quickly."

Sibierski started his career with Lille , his hometown club, in 1992 and played for Auxerre and Nantes before signing for Lens three years ago.

The 28-year-old has Champions' League and Uefa Cup experience, having gone as far as the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 1996 and represented France in the Olympics in the same year. He also won back-to-back winner's medals in the French Cup for Lens.

"He is a very good player who turns 29 in a few days," Keegan said. "He has had Champions' League experience scoring four goals for Nantes in the competition. He was captain of Lens. You don't get to be captain of the club without having some leadership qualities and having the respect of everyone. He is a little bit like Paul Bosvelt in that respect."