Benfica: City have signed Ederson

Benfica say Ederson has joined Manchester City

Goalkeeper Ederson has joined Manchester City for a fee of £34.7m, according to selling club Benfica.

City have yet to confirm the deal as they are still resolving third party ownership issues but are optimistic they will be solved in the coming days.

Benfica said on Thursday that half of the fee will go to third parties, including the 23-year-old’s former Brazilian team, Rio Ave.

The goalkeeper originally joined Benfica as a 16-year-old but he was released after two years and spent time with Portuguese lower-league side Ribeirao before returning to Rio Ave.

Ederson returned to the Estadio Luz in the summer of 2015 and went on to win two league titles and three cups with the Lisbon-based side.

Ederson is set to challenge Claudio Bravo for a starting spot at City

The goalkeeper was called up by Brazil in March but has yet to be capped.

Ederson is set to challenge Claudio Bravo for the starting spot in goal at the Etihad Stadium, with England stopper Joe Hart out of favour. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero has left City following the expiry of his contract.

City have wasting little time in strengthening ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, having last week completed a £43m deal to sign Bernardo Silva from Monaco.