Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to undergo a medical at Manchester City today as he finalizes his high-profile transfer from Chelsea.
The reigning Premier League champions have agreed to pay their rivals an initial £25 million fee, potentially rising to £30 million with add-ons.
The 29-year-old originally signed for Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 and has since made 221 total appearances for the club. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Kovacic won major silverware, including the Champions League, Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup. However, with just one year left on his current contract and no extension offered, Chelsea are content to offload the player.
Kovacic’s exit comes as part of a wider squad overhaul in west London before Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival as manager next month. N’Golo Kante is also set to leave Chelsea, heading to Saudi Arabia on a lucrative contract with Al-Ittihad.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has long been an admirer of Kovacic and sees his versatility across midfield as being ideal for his City side. The former Real Madrid midfielder will bring plenty of Premier League and Champions League experience to the Etihad Stadium.
Once the medical checks are completed, Kovacic is expected to officially complete his move to Manchester City and join his new teammates in time for the club’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.
