Manchester City signs Fabian Delph to 5-year deal from Aston Villa

Fabian Delph is officially a member of Manchester City.

The team announced they signed Delph to a five-year contract after triggering the midfielder's £8-million release clause in his Aston Villa contract.

"Fabian Delph is an excellent player, and I am looking forward to working with him," manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

"He has made a huge impact in recent seasons at Aston Villa, and is now one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League.

"Fabian has tremendous skill and energy, and the fact that he has become a regular member of the England squad is further evidence of his progress over the past few seasons. At just 25 years old, he still has his best years ahead of him."

Delph's transfer will surely rub Villa fans the wrong way following his comments from a week ago when he issued a statement on the team's website to deny reports linking him with a move to City.

For Villa, however, there was little they could do to retain Delph after including the release clause in the four-year contract extension he signed earlier this year.

The move appeared to be all but complete earlier in the day when images of Delph heading into his medical with City circulated on social media.

Delph finishes his career at Villa Park with eight goals during his 128 appearances, and was given the captain's armband during the 2014-15 campaign.

England boss Roy Hodgson gave Delph his senior debut with the national team in Sept. 2014 when he appeared in a match against Norway.

Delph will now fly to Australia where he will link-up with his new teammates.