Manchester City have completed the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given from Newcastle United.
Keeper pens four-and-a-half-year deal for undisclosed fee
Manchester City have completed the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given from Newcastle United.
The Republic of Ireland international underwent a medical at Eastlands on Sunday and has now sealed his switch to the ambitious outfit.
Given, 32, has put pen-to-paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The shot-stopper joined the Magpies in 1997 from Blackburn Rovers and made over 450 appearances for the club.
Experience
City boss Mark Hughes told the club's
official website: "I have said for a long time that we need the experience of a keeper like Shay.
"I am delighted that we have been able to acquire such an accomplished keeper, and one is so highly regarded by everyone in the Premier League.
"We are getting a very good keeper, and the experience he has will help the two outstanding young keepers that we have here in Joe (Harte) and Kasper (Schmeichel).
"I am looking for them all to grow as a group, and it's important that we have that influence of a senior keeper.
"I have had a good talk with him about where we expect to be in the future. From a football point of view, and a club point of view, it's an easy thing to sell because we know we are going in the right direction. Players want to be part of that."
Kinnear view
Magpies manager Joe Kinnear said: "I'm really sorry to see Shay go. He's been a fantastic professional and a great lad to work with.
"We bent over backwards to try and keep him at Newcastle United and offered him a longer contract to stay at the club.
"He's been with Newcastle United for a long time and has been a great servant, but he felt the time was right to move on and so realistically, we had no choice but to reluctantly agree to allow him to make this move.
"I wish him and his family all the very best for the future."
