Premier League: Manchester City signs Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton

Manchester City completed the signing of midfielder Matheus Nunes on Friday after agreeing to pay Wolverhampton a reported transfer fee of 53 million pounds ($67 million).

Welcome, Matheus Nunes!  pic.twitter.com/Ba4vExfLAz

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 1, 2023

The Portugal international had been refusing to train with Wolves in an effort to force a move to City, which had a lower bid rejected last week. He signed a five-year contract, City said.

City manager Pep Guardiola was looking for help in the midfield. The injured Kevin De Bruyne could be out until the new year.

Four years ago, Matheus Nunes was waking up at 5am to do shifts at his local bakery before training with @SportingCP U23s.

Now, he’s part of the midfield for Treble winners @ManCity. pic.twitter.com/BtGWoFz1bW

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 1, 2023

City also lost Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona after his contract expired, and signed central midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a replacement. However, that's not a like-for-like replacement, with Kovacic operating in deeper areas than Gundogan, who often played as an attacking midfielder just off Erling Haaland.

The 25-year-old Nunes typically plays further forward than Kovacic so would offer something different to Guardiola.

Nunes is the fourth signing for City, following Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and winger Jeremy Doku.