Manchester City reveal Manuel Akanji shirt number following official confirmation of transfer

Manuel Akanji will wear the number 25 shirt at Manchester City after joining from Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the transfer window.

The Swiss defender has signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium till at least 2027.

With injuries piling up for the Blues at the back, City have strengthened their options at centre-back by signing the 27-year-old from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £15 million.

Pep Guardiola's side maintained an unbeaten start to their title defence with a resounding 6-0 win over Nottingham Forest, with Erling Haaland netting thrice for the second time in four days.

Julian Alvarez opened his Premier League account on his first league start with a fine brace after impressing off the bench in City's opening games of the season.

Guardiola refused to rule out City making any late moves in the transfer window speaking prior to his side's midweek win.

A flurry of reports on Tuesday mentioned Manchester City were nearing an agreement with Borussia Dortmund over Manuel Akanji, whose arrival would round off a near perfect window at the Etihad Stadium.

Things proceeded quickly and Akanji underwent a medical on Wednesday before City announced his arrival early on Thursday morning.

It remains to be seen if Akanji will be involved when City face Aston Villa on Saturday, with Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte still on the sidelines.

In the meantime, it has been confirmed the Swiss centre-half will wear the number 25 shirt at City, previously worn by the likes of Fernandinho, Joe Hart, Wayne Bridge and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Ruben Dias and John Stones helped City to their first shutout in four games on Wednesday, with City keeping league leaders Arsenal on their toes.

The Blues conceded thrice to Newcastle a few weeks ago before Barcelona put three past a weakened City side at Spotify Camp Nou last week.

Crystal Palace went two ahead at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend though City fought back in the second-half to claim a 4-2 win over the Eagles.

Akanji adds to City's current options at centre-back and would boost Guardiola's hopes of competing on all fronts again this season.

The Blues struggled with personnel at the heart of defence at key moments of the previous campaign, with Aymeric Laporte playing through a knee issue in City's Premier League run-in last term.

Having brought in significant funds through the sales of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, officials at the Etihad Stadium have addressed arguably every position that needed bolstering for City to challenge in every competition the club are involved in this season.