Manchester City Sign Brazilian Winger Allan Elias from Palmeiras

Manchester City have completed the signing of Brazilian winger Allan Elias from Palmeiras, landing the 22-year-old on a five-year deal as their sixth arrival of the summer.

The Premier League champions are understood to be paying around €40 million ($47 million) for Elias, who came through Palmeiras’ academy and already has 96 first-team appearances behind him. It is a significant outlay for a player still at the start of his career, but City’s hierarchy are convinced they have secured a major talent.

“Allan is a really exciting player, and we think he will be a big addition to the squad,” Director of Football Hugo Viana said in a club statement on Monday. “He has shown throughout his short career so far that he will fight to be the best he can be.”

The move continues a busy window at the Etihad. Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Jeremy Monga and Pierce Charles have all come through the door, with Elias adding pace and directness to an already stacked attacking unit.

For the player himself, the step from Florianopolis and Palmeiras to Manchester City represents a leap into the elite.

“This is a surreal moment for me. Manchester City, with everything they have won over the past 15 years, are one of the most attractive clubs in the world for players,” Allan said. “To be able to sit here today and say I have joined them is the proudest moment of my life. I love Palmeiras and always will -- but the decision to come to City was an easy one.”

Born in Florianopolis, Elias spoke of his desire to extend the club’s rich Brazilian lineage. He namechecked Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Fernandinho as examples to follow, all of whom lifted Premier League titles in City colours.

His task now is clear: turn potential and promise from Brazil into end product in England’s most demanding league, and try to write his name alongside those countrymen in City’s modern history.