Manchester City are set to complete the £41million transfer of AFC Bournemouth and Netherlands defender Nathan Ake.
Just four days had passed since the Cherries relegation from the Premier League was confirmed despite a final day win over Everton, when AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City agreed on terms on a £41million transfer.
🍒 BREAKING: @afcbournemouth have accepted a £41 million bid for Nathan Aké from @ManCity #afcb
— Kris Temple (@kristemple) July 30, 2020
Manchester City had reportedly had a long-term interest in Nathan Ake and had made an enquiry regarding his availability during the final week of the elongated Premier League campaign.
Personal terms have now been agreed according to a tweet by Alex Crook, a south coast reporter who works with talkSPORT.
Crook has also confirmed that Chelsea have opted against exercising the clause in their contract following his departure from Chelsea for £20million in June 2017, confirming the stance that Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was not interested in Ake.
Nathan Ake has agreed personal terms with #MCFC after #AFCB accepted a £41m bid. #CFC have not exercised their option to match the offer for their former defender.
— Alex Crook ⚽️🎙 (@alex_crook) August 5, 2020
Nathan Ake had been away on holiday which had delayed the completion of the deal as the medical had not been completed and although Ake ended the season early through injury, this isn’t envisaged to be a problem.
Nathan Ake in Manchester to complete his medical within the next 24 hours.
Personal terms agreed.
Would expect an official announcement from the Man City before the weekend. #afcb to receive a club record fee of £41 million.
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) August 5, 2020
However, there was one major development whilst he has been abroad and that was his proposal to his girlfriend.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcKvD3Hp8V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Once the confirmation of Ake’s transfer is confirmed by Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth it ends a memorable four year period at Dean Court.
Nathan Ake’s association with AFC Bournemouth began in July 2016 when he made the move to the south coast on loan from Chelsea. Ake made 12 appearances in all competitions, including 8 Premier League starts before he was recalled by Chelsea midway through the season. He would go on to make three appearances in the FA Cup and two appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea before returning to AFC Bournemouth at the end of that season.
The Cherries signed Ake on a permanent basis from Chelsea for £20million in June 2017, setting a then-new club-record for a fee paid for a player.
He went on to make a further 109 appearances for AFC Bournemouth including 104 starts in the top flight of English football.
Devastated.. Love this club no matter what! Thank you for all the support this year and sorry we couldn’t make it in the end.❤️🙏🏾🍒 pic.twitter.com/UAzadx4JPa
— Nathan Aké (@NathanAke) July 26, 2020
Your say…
northstandmark wrote…
Nathan Ake is the best player I’ve ever seen wear the red and black, perhaps will ever see.
We’ve had countless players down the years who were low on ability but possessed a good attitude and work ethic. We’ve also had players with bags of ability without the correct attitude. Nathan goes down as a great because he is at the apex of both sides of the game.
He deserves the very best for the rest of his career.
kirsikka wrote…
Not as much as we would have liked or would have got had we stayed up but in the circumstances decent. The mooted £35m felt a little light.
Even if someone else comes in for him now, why would he go there? Man City or Liverpool are the clubs to be at right now.
Good luck to him, he’s been a joy to watch. A true professional in every sense of the word and deserves to have a tilt at some medals and finish his career with a stacked trophy cabinet.
I hope we get back up so he gets to play against us and hear the warm reception he’ll still get from our fans. As opposed to a certain someone else who can expect vitriolic abuse. – Join the conversation, click here.
A little update following the official announcement of the transfer
Officially the deal is undisclosed but has been confirmed as a record sale for AFC Bournemouth.
Best of luck to @NathanAke an amazing player and even better person! If any player deserves this sort of transfer it’s him. It’s been a pleasure to play alongside you and now I’ll watch on with pride. ❤️ https://t.co/Gn9S5nFoJj
— Steve Cook (@SteveCook28) August 5, 2020
