Stefan Ortega has penned a three-year contract until 2025 with reigning Premier League Champions, Manchester City this week.
The German goalkeeper makes the move to the Etihad Stadium hoping to provide sterner competition for the club's current number one choice between the sticks, Ederson.
The impressive Brazilian international has set new heights for goalkeeping standards in the Premier League, and recently won his third successive English top-flight Golden Glove award.
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Ortega, 29, boasted impressive statistics with Arminia Bielefeld in Germany's Bundesliga last season, despite their relegation to the second division.
He arrives in England to ultimately replace USMNT international goalkeeper Zack Steffen for the coming season and perhaps beyond, with the American looking set to join Championship side Middlesbrough on a season-long loan.
As part of Manchester City's official announcement, it has been revealed that Ortega will wear the number 18 jersey for the Premier League Champions.
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The club's latest signing is also expected to join up with Pep Guardiola’s squad for pre-season.
City travel to the USA to face Mexican side Club America and a side that Stefan Ortega will certainly be familiar with, Bayern Munich in friendlies.
Pep Guardiola’s side recently secured their fourth Premier League title in the last five years in May, and after fighting at the bottom-half of the Bundesliga, Manchester City’s newest signing has revealed his joy at hopefully fighting for silverware on four fronts.
Speaking with the official club website after completing his free transfer this week, Stefan Ortega said on the subject, “I think in the last two years, I’ve just played in relegations, to go down or not from the Bundesliga."
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“So it’s totally new for me to play for a title in the Premier League, also for the Champions League title, in the FA Cup, and the other cup. So it’s really interesting, but I’m looking forward and I’m ready.”
Manchester City are due to kick-off their Premier League title defence away to West Ham in August, and having made 33 appearances and recorded 125 saves - one of the highest tallies for any Bundesliga keeper last season - the German looks set to rival Ederson over the course of the upcoming campaign.
Ortega has also revealed that his aspirations and ambitions go beyond club football, with the 29 year-old still hopeful of representing Germany at an international level.
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“Of course yes, but for me, the important thing is the club and the rest, maybe it’s coming or not."
"So I’ll try to bring my best performance, and then we’ll see what happens,” said the new Manchester City goalkeeper.
The shot-stopper will be the second German in Pep Guardiola’s squad, with Ilkay Gundogan - the scorer of two goals in the thrilling comeback against Aston Villa on the final day - a fellow German who moved from the Bundesliga to the Blues.
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Stefan Ortega’s experience in the German top-flight means that the 29 year-old has previously come up against Erling Haaland, who signed for Manchester City for £51 million from Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.
Topics: Stefan Ortega, Germany, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Football, Transfers
Harry Winters