Kolarov joins Roma from Manchester City for €5M fee

Manchester City confirmed Saturday that defender Aleksandar Kolarov has joined AS Roma on a permanent contract after accepting the Italian side's €5-million offer.

After putting pen to paper on a three-year contract until 2020, Kolarov spoke to Roma's website about his goals heading into the 2017-18 term.

"I am extremely happy to be here," Kolarov said. "I will give 100 percent and more for Roma.

"My objective is always the same: to win."

Kolarov will link up with his new teammates in Boston for the club's pre-season tour.

His departure brings an end to his seven-year association with City, where he admitted that he did not anticipate representing the Premier League side for so long after joining from Lazio.

"When I came in 2010, honestly, I didn't expect to play so long," Kolarov said on City's website. "Today is the day I have to say goodbye. Everything was quick the last couple of days. For me, it's a very sad day.

"In every part of the Club we have improved not 100 percent but 200 percent. Now we are a far better Club than what we were when I came. I am proud that I was part of making City the Club that it is.

"For me it was a great pleasure to play for this shirt."

In keeping with tradition this summer, Kolarov's transfer was also celebrated with a video featuring the Serbian's disapproving look as a team representative outlined plans for an over-the-top announcement.

Kolarov becomes Roma's seventh signing of the summer following arrival of players such as Rick Karsdorp, Bruno Peres, and Gregoire Defrel, who joined the capital-city side on loan from Sassuolo on Saturday.