WALKER IS GONNA BE A PEP STAR
most respected managers in the world and I feel he can help me take my game to a new level.”
Walker has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad to become Guardiola’s third summer signing. His arrival takes City’s spending past the £125m mark since the end of last season.
City will pay Spurs an initial fee of £45m, with a further £9m in add-ons, depending on how successful Guardiola’s side are.
Walker hopes he can play a key role, with Guardiola intent on splashing out more cash to build a side capable of matching the success he enjoyed at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Nervous
“What a manager to work under,” added Walker. “I’m excited and a little bit nervous, I’m not going to lie.
“But I think I’m at a good age now where I’m probably at the peak of my career and I just want to learn, and be the best player I can be.
“I haven’t had a deep conversation with him, but the conversation I have had with him, he’s been very positive and said I’ll fit into his style really well.”
That style is likely to see Walker spend as much time in the opposition half as in his own. But the England international insists his priority is to help build a more solid defensive unit.
Walker said: “It’s a big part of my game, attacking. As I’ve said countless times before, I’m a defender, that’s first and foremost.”
The 27-year-old had several other offers but wanted to join City so he could be closer to his family, who live in his hometown, Sheffield.
Walker will now join the rest of the City squad who fly to America on Monday to begin their pre-season tour.
Paris St-Germain broke the world record for a defender when they signed David Luiz from Chelsea for £50m in 2014.
City then made John Stones the most expensive Englishman of all time when they signed him from Everton for £47.5m last summer.
But the deal to land Walker eclipses both to make him the most expensive defender in history.
Guardiola is expected to continue his massive spending spree this weekend by securing Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy in a £50m deal.
The French outfit have accepted City’s bid and the left-back is expected to travel to Manchester for a medical and agree personal terms.