Toure completes Manchester City switch

(GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City have confirmed that Kolo Toure is moving to Eastlands on a four-year contract.

The 28-year-old defender arrives from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee following seven years with the north London club.

Toure passed a medical today and then finalised the necessary paperwork.

Manager Mark Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk: "I am delighted to welcome Kolo to Manchester City.

"It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defence, and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world-class player. He brings a wealth of Premier League experience."

Toure will be unveiled to the media tomorrow alongside a delighted Hughes after moving for a reported £15m.

The Welsh boss added: "Kolo has been a central figure in a very strong Arsenal team for many years.

"I have been an admirer of him for a long time. He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room."

Hughes turned to Toure after his efforts to bring in John Terry were rebuffed first by Chelsea, then by the player himself.

Toure's arrival is City's sixth signing of the summer. His former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor has already checked in along with Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry and back-up goalkeeper Stuart Taylor.

However it is understood that City are still keen on Everton's Joleon Lescott.

Toure struggled to find his best form last season after the African Cup of Nations.

He was shunted out to right-back when Bacary Sagna got injured and went on to make 26 starts in the league.

Toure, however, was recognised as Arsenal's most established centre-back and the only remaining regular from the 'Invincibles' side of 2003-04.

A utility player when he arrived in 2002, the Ivorian quickly blossomed into an top-class defender.

He won over manager Arsene Wenger with his strength, pace and his ability to break up the play.