Manchester City have finally said good bye to goalkeeper and club legend Joe Hart. The former England number one, who experienced the glory of two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups with the club, now joins Burnley FC on a two year deal, for a transfer fee worth £3.5 million.
After spending the last two years on loan, with Torino and West Ham United, the 31-year-old finally gets a permanent move, which was exactly what he had been seeking all summer. He had been strongly linked to Chelsea, who turned to Rob Green instead.
Said Man City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak: “Joe Hart’s contribution to Manchester City cannot be overstated. His twelve years at the club have seen him produce some remarkable performances and heart-stopping saves that will live in the memory for a long time to come.”
“His passion for and commitment to this Club, evidenced by a remarkable tally of 348 appearances, means he will rightly be regarded as a City legend in perpetuity.”
Of those 348 appearances, only one has come while Pep Guardiola has been in charge/after 2016. Burnley boss Sean Dyche has brought Hart in while fellow shot stoppers Nick Pope and Tom Heaton are currently out injured. The other main keeper on the Clarets squad is former Manchester United man Anders Lindegaard.
BREAKING: Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of England international Joe Hart on an initial two-year deal. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/bkyAuXKlMS
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 7, 2018
His acquisition means that Tottenham Hotspur are now the only club in the England top flight not to buy a single player this summer. City team Captain Vincent Kompany also extolled the virtues of the four time Premier League Golden Glove winner.
“Joe joined as a young lad from Shrewsbury and leaves a City legend,” said Kompany.
“When you look at the Club he joined and the Club as it is now, we have come so far during his time in Manchester and Joe has been a huge part of that.
“Those saves against Dortmund and Barcelona, that hug with Gael in 2012, these are moments we won’t ever forget.”
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to play alongside him for so many years and I know I speak on behalf of every City fan when I say I hope he means as much to his next Club as he has meant to us.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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