TheCable

New Manchester City striker, Wilfried Bony, will miss Swansea City and the club’s fans after signing for their Barclays Premier League rivals.

Bony became the most expensive African players in history after moving to City for an estimated £25m ($38m).

The Ivory Coast striker agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Etihad Stadium through to 2019 and will wear the number 14 shirt.

He joined Swansea for £12m from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 and was BPL top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals.

“I’m going to really miss Swansea – the club and its people. But it’s a big challenge that I had to take; one I’m excited about.

“I still believe that Swansea was the right club for me to join when I left Holland for the Premier League. I have no regrets, although it’s going to be strange coming back to the Liberty to play against Swansea.

“But now was the right time for me to gain more experience and challenge myself with Champions League football and to try and win trophies.

“It’s a good squad that will continue to do well this season. I have no doubts about that.

“I have spoken to the manager and he has wished me good luck for the future. I would also like to thank him, not just as the coach but also when he was a player last season, because he has helped me a lot.

“I will also speak to Ashley Williams to thank him as captain and to pass on my gratitude to the rest of the squad.

“Because I only have good things to say about life in Swansea and the people because they’ve always shown me warmth – on and off the pitch. I’m going to miss everyone.

“The fans are up there at the top though because they’ve also supported me from the very first day I arrived, even when things weren’t going so well for me. They’ve kept singing my name at the Liberty which has meant so much to me.

“They would even sing the Wilfried Bony song when I walked down the street, which is unbelievable.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Swansea from my playing colleagues, the coaches, medical team and the kit staff through to the Chairman, who has been great with me. There are too many people to mention.”

Bony is on international duty with the Elephants at the Africa Cup of Nations and could likely wait until mid-February before he can make his City debut.

MOST EXPENSIVE AFRICAN FOOTBALLERS

Wilfried Bony, Swansea to Man City (2015) – £25m rising to £28m

Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal to Man City (2009) – £25m

Michael Essien, Lyon to Chelsea (2005) – £24.4m

Yaya Toure, Barcelona to Man City (2010) – £24m

Didier Drogba, Marseille to Chelsea (2004) – £24m