Former Chelsea playmaker Kevin De Bruyne joins Manchester City for a club-record fee

Manchester City have announced the signing of former Chelsea playmaker Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg for a club-record fee. The Belgium international continues Manuel Pellegrini's big-spending summer overhaul after the club previously completed the additions of Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Nicolas Otamendi and youngsters Patrick Roberts and Enes Unal.

The 24-year-old playmaker had been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium during the current transfer window. German publication Sport1, nevertheless, recently claimed that Manchester United were also monitoring the situation while the Telegraph reported that Bayern Munich were also considering to join the race for his services.

But earlier this week Wolfsburg's club director Klaus Allofs put and end to those speculation after confirming he was instead on his way to City and the clubs have now confirmed the agreement. "Manchester City are delighted to announce that Kevin De Bruyne has joined the Club on a six-year deal," the club confirmed.

BBC claimed the Premier League leaders have paid a club record fee of £55m (€84m) to the Bundesliga side taking the spending for the summer to more than £150m. De Bruyne is set for his second spell in the English football after he joined Chelsea from Genk for around £6.7m in January 2012 – just to remain at the Belgian side until the end of the campaign to complete his development.

Following an impressive loan spell at Werder Bremen he returned to West London in the summer of 2013 at the same time manager Jose Mourinho took charge of the club. But after struggling for regular time during the first part of the campaign, the Portuguese boss decided to sell him to Wolfsburg for around £16.7m during the January transfer window.

The Belgium has expressed his delight over the agreement, hoping to help his new side to conquer titles after their impressive start to the campaign.

"'I want to reach the highest level possible as a player and I think the most important thing is that at the end of the season we can be happy and maybe have some titles," he said.

"I think this is the most important for the Club, the players and for the fans of course."