Haaland signs for Man City

Alf-Inge Haaland has signed for Manchester City

Manchester City have finally completed the signing of Alf-Inge Haaland for £2.5m from Leeds.

City boss Joe Royle had been chasing the Norwegian international for almost two years and captured the player on a five-year deal as he seeks to build a team that can survive in the Premiership.

Royle said: "I've been a big admirer of Haaland for a long time. He's a versatile player who can play anywhere in midfield or defence and he will be an important part of our Premiership campaign."

Haaland, after being an integral part of the Leeds side in the 1998/99 season played just 12 times last season, with five of his appearances in the Uefa Cup.

Surplus

Despite being called into the Norway training squad for Euro 2000 he failed to make the final 22 and was deemed surplus to requirements at Leeds.

The 27-year-old arrived at Elland Road in the summer of 1997, signed for £1.6m by the then manager George Graham.

Royle tried to sign the former Nottingham Forest player last season but failed when Leeds boss David O'Leary chose to keep the player in his squad despite the emergence of young talent.

Haaland is expected to be the first of a number of raids into the transfer market by Royle as he seeks to add quality to his squad.