Pep will help make me the world’s No.1 Number Two

£54M WALKER SIGNS FIVE-YEAR DEAL TO PLAY FOR GUARDIOLA

KYLE WALKER completed his £54million switch from Tottenham to Manchester City to become the world’s most expensive defender.

Walker signed a five-year-deal with City to make him boss Pep Guardiola’s third signing in the transfer window and take the club’s summer spending to £130m, after the captures of goalkeeper Edersen and midfielder Bernardo Silva.

City will pay Spurs an initial fee of £45m, with a further £5m, plus £4m in add-ons, taking Walker’s potential final fee to the £54m mark.

And the England defender said he was relishing the prospect of playing under Guardiola and taking his game to a new level under the revered Spaniard.

“I’m thrilled to be signing for City and can’t wait to get started,” said Walker. “Pep Guardiola is one of the most respected managers in the world and I feel he can help me take my game to a new level.

“What a manager to work under. I’m excited and a little bit nervous, I’m not going to lie.

“The conversation I have had with him, he’s been very positive and said I’ll fit into his style really well. But I think I’m at a good age where I’m probably at the peak of my career and I just want to learn and be the best player I can be.

“It feels a little bit surreal, given I’d been at the previous club for so many years. But I’m excited, it’s a new chapter in my career.”

Walker’s fee eclipses the £50m Paris Saint-germain paid Chelsea for David Luiz in 2014, which was a world record sum for a defender.

City made John Stones the most expensive English player of all-time when they signed him from Everton for £47.5m last summer. But the deal for Walker, 27, has eclipsed that.

Walker’s representatives, Base Soccer agency, confirmed their client had commanded “a record fee for a defender and for an English player”.

City released three fullbacks this summer in Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, with Walker the only defensive replacement.

Dani Alves snubbed a reunion with his former boss Guardiola by joining PSG, which has left City needing to secure an alternative back-up to Walker.

City are set to continue their defensive spending spree this weekend by securing Monaco leftback Bernard Mendy in a deal worth around £50m.

Monaco have accepted City’s bid and Mendy is expected to travel to Manchester today to undergo a medical and agree personal terms.

Walker will be included in the City squad that leaves for their US pre-season tour on Monday, and Guardiola wants Mendy to be on board too.

England No.1 Joe Hart is poised to join West Ham on a season-long loan deal, with the option to make a permanent move at the end of it.