Transfer Centre

Manchester City 'complete Zack Steffen signing'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 07 December 2018

Manchester City reportedly complete the signing of USA international goalkeeper Zack Steffen, but could be forced to send him out on loan to obtain a work permit.

Manchester City have reportedly completed a deal to sign USA international goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Columbus Crew.

City are in the market for a new back-up to Ederson, with Claudio Bravo now 35 years old and currently sidelined with a serious Achilles injury.

However, Goal.com reports that Steffen may need to join a different European club on loan upon the completion of his move to the Etihad Stadium in order to qualify for a UK work permit.

The 23-year-old is understood to have completed his medical and put pen to paper on personal terms on Thursday, with the deal set to go through when the January transfer window reopens.

The transfer fee is expected to be around $7.5m (£5.9m), although that could rise to $10m (£7.8m) if certain performance-related targets are met.

Such a deal would see Steffen become the most expensive MLS goalkeeper of all time, more than doubling the previous record held by Tim Howard's move to Manchester United in 2003.

La Liga side Girona and Ligue 1 outfit Nice are considered the frontrunners to land Steffen on loan should he see his initial attempts to secure a work permit fall down.