Manchester City set to sign Sarmiento - More expensive than Lautaro and Alario?

Manchester City are on verge of signing 17-year-old Darío Sarmiento from Estudiantes de La Plata, Argentinian newspaper El Día reports. The reported fee would make the winger one of the most expensive U18 talents in the world – and possibly also the most expensive departure from the Argentinean Superliga. According to the report, the parties have agreed on a fee of €20 million plus a 20% share in a resale. The offer is now being examined by the club’s lawyers.

Foyth, Funes Mori & Co. The most expensive Superliga departures Click here for overview Sarmiento, who is the youngest player in the club’s history since October 5, 2019, at the age of 16 years and six months, is set to receive a contract running until 2026 – the transfer would not take place until next summer, however, since the Argentinean will only celebrate his 18th birthday in March.

This would make Sarmiento only the 19th player in the history of football, for whom €20 million or more will be paid at the age of 18. This first happened in 2001 with Antonio Cassano, for whom Roma paid €31 million to Bari. In the following years, Wayne Rooney (Man United) and Sergio Agüero (Man City) followed among others.

Only 6 transfers These players moved from the Superliga to the Premier League Click here for overview In Argentina, only Lucas Alario (Leverkusen) and Lautaro Martínez (Inter) have been transferred for more money so far. Leverkusen bought the centre-forward for €24 million from River Plate in 2017, while Inter signed their striker for €25 million from Racing Club in 2018. Thanks to add-ons and the resale participation, Sarmiento could surpass the fee paid for Lautaro. If the future Man City player will not move on by a certain date, the 20% share will be paid out according to El Día.