Football: Guardiola's first signing at Manchester City

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish-origin midfielder Ilkay Gundogan became Pep Guardiola’s first signed as manager of Manchester City, the English club announced Thursday.

German-born Gundogan, whose family is originally from the western Turkish province of Balikesir, was signed from Borussia Dortmund for 21 million pounds ($30.3 million), British media reported.

“I’m thrilled to have signed for Manchester City,” the 25-year-old said in a statement on City’s website. “When I learned of City’s interest my heart was set on coming here and things have moved very quickly.”

He added: “Now I have a new challenge and that is to achieve great things with City. The opportunity to work with a coach like Pep Guardiola is something I am really looking forward to and I am flattered to be the first signing the club has made this summer.”

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach Guardiola has been brought in by the club’s Qatari owners to fight for domestic and European silverware in the coming season.

According to the club, Gundogan signed a four-year contract.

Despite injury problems, he made 157 appearances over the past five seasons for Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the German Super Cup, and won 16 caps for Germany, scoring four goals.

He was sidelined with a back injury for more than a year from August 2013, missing Germany’s World Cup victory in Brazil, and has been left out of the Euro 2016 squad because of a dislocated kneecap.