Manchester City have announced the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush on Thursday, to add strength to the squad amid a challenging season.
The Egypt international has penned a four-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League champions for an initial £59 million ($72.6 million), with additional add-ons potentially bringing the fee to £63 million.
Marmoush is City’s third signing in the January transfer window, following the arrivals of defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. The club’s manager, Pep Guardiola, is actively reshaping his squad as part of a rebuilding phase.
The 25-year-old forward, who scored 37 goals in 67 appearances for Bundesliga side Frankfurt, expressed his excitement about joining the Premier League giants.
“Signing for City is an amazing feeling,” Marmoush said. “With Pep, his technical staff, and the world-class facilities here, players have everything they need to improve. That was really enticing for me when I had the chance to come here.”
He added, “I cannot deny I also want to win trophies. City has been the most successful club in England for many, many years, so I know I am joining a winning environment and culture.”
City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, praised Marmoush’s abilities, calling him an “accomplished and exciting forward.” He continued, “He has had an outstanding season, and every time we have watched him, he has influenced matches. He has all the attributes a top-class attacker requires. He has outstanding pace and awareness, and he is exceptional in front of goal. He can also play a number of different positions, which is a really valuable asset.”
Marmoush’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium coincides with a frustrating campaign for City by their high standards. The club, who have won the Premier League title for the past four seasons, currently sit fifth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, and are realistically out of the title race.
The defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday means Guardiola’s side is in danger of missing the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since the 2012/13 season. City must now beat Club Brugge next week to qualify for the play-off round after a 4-2 loss in Paris saw them squander a two-goal lead.
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