Bacary Sagna joins Manchester City: Arsenal defender issues heartfelt final farewell to fans

Sagna has completed a free transfer from Arsenal to City after the Premier League champions confirmed the news on Friday

Jack de Menezes
Friday 13 June 2014 14:18 BST
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Bacary Sagna looks likely to join Manchester City when Arsenal contract expires
Bacary Sagna looks likely to join Manchester City when Arsenal contract expires

Bacary Sagna has issued his final farewell to Arsenal fans after he completed his free transfer to Premier League rivals Manchester City, admitting that the club made him into “the man he is today”.

Sagna is out on contract at the end of the month and will join up with City following the completion of the World Cup, having previously announced that he will be leaving Arsenal after seven years with the club.

For the Gunners, the move is particularly sour as Sagna will be the latest in a line of first-team players that have moved on to the current Premier League champions, with Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy all being lured to the Citizens since their 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover.

In a final message to Arsenal fans, Sagna has thanked them for his stay at the club and especially manager Arsene Wenger for showing the belief in him to “change his life”.

Posting on his Instagram account, Sagna wrote: “To be fair, i don't even know where to start or even how to say it... but i just wanna thank the whole Arsenal fc... a family to me, a club who taught me so much in 7years, a club where i had the chance to progress day by day, a club who always gave me his trust whenever i was personally not at my best , a club who change the kid i was to the man i am today, a club where i had the pleasure to give 200 pr cent every game. [SIC]

“I wanna thank the whole staff working at the club, the fans for accepting me so fast, making it smoove for myself and my family, my team mates witch i consider my true friends today and i had a great pleasure learning with them.[SIC]

“Of course i wanna thank the coach MR WENGER... who believed in me..gave me his trust..and clearly changed my life. Now, it's time for me to move on and one more time THANK YOU .”[SIC]

The news comes a day after Arsenal had to endure the taunts of their London rivals following Chelsea's swoop for their former captain Cesc Fabregas, who will head to Stamford Bridge next season after a £30m deal was agreed with Barcelona.

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