Man City sell £25m defender without first-team appearance
- Yan Couto's loan to Borussia Dortmund has been made permanent
- Dortmund trigger purchase obligation despite slow start to season
- 22-year-old ends four-year spell with City without senior appearance
By Tom Gott
Manchester City are set for a £25m windfall after Borussia Dortmund triggered their obligation to sign right-back Yan Couto.
Couto joined City back in the summer of 2020 but initially departed to join fellow City Football Group side Girona on loan. 12 months later, he inked a loan deal with Braga before another two-year spell back with Girona.
Having impressed in La Liga last season, Couto was chased by Dortmund and was signed on an initial loan deal, the terms of which has sparked some confusion.
Initially reported to include a purchase option, Couto's deal with Dortmund has since been confirmed to include a mandatory purchase clause, but there were still questions over whether it would only be triggered if certain conditions were met.
Despite having made just seven appearances so far this season, Couto's purchase clause has now been triggered, with City set to cash in for £25m next year.
Reports have since stated that the agreement between City and Dortmund saw the Bundesliga side formally commit to signing Couto permanently, although they were given the freedom to decide the date of the future transfer.
It means Couto will depart City without making a single first-team appearance for Pep Guardiola's side.
The Brazil international was named on the bench for the 2021 Community Shield defeat to Leicester City but was otherwise restricted to friendly appearances for the Cityzens.
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