LEILA OUAHABI will join Manchester City with the WSL giants signing a second star from Spain’s top-flight this summer.
The Barcelona left-back has been unveiled as the Citizens’ newest addition following their swoop for Deyna Castellanos.
And the Conti Cup holders have been heavily linked with a move for Atletico defender Laia Aleixandri.
Ouahabi, 29, is expected to officially become a City player on July 1st in a two-year move that will see her link up with her former Barca team-mate Vicky Losada.
Together the duo helped the Catalan giants win their first Women’s Champions League crown with a 4-0 defeat of Chelsea in 2021
Of her Academy Stadium move, Ouahabi said: “Manchester City have always been a team that caught my eye.
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"I like their style of football so much and the DNA of the Club is very exciting.
“This is going to be a completely different experience for me, and I’m really looking forward to it.
"I want to continue enjoying my football and City are a strong club.
"Both personally and professionally, I think I will grow and develop here.
“I also want to keep winning trophies. I like winning and being competitive, and I am coming here to win trophies for City.
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“I am very happy. I was looking forward to this moment (signing for the club) and I am really happy now it is all done."
Ouahabi, who is part of the Spain squad competing in theEuros this summer, has spent almost her entire playing career at Barcelona.
The highly-rated defender joined the club’s La Masia academy in 2007 at 13, before making her first-team debut in 2011.
Ouahabi, who has 46 senior Spain caps, went on to spend three years at Valencia before returning to Barca in 2016.
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And the defender, who has made 88 Barca appearances, helped the team to win a domestic treble last term.
The LaLiga Women's champs also went on to reach a second successive Champions League final where they were beaten by Lyon.
City boss Gareth Taylor said: “Leila is a player who has become accustomed to success throughout her career, and we’re thrilled she has joined us in a bid to continue that here in England.
“She has a vast amount of experience in high-pressured situations and will give everything she has to win, which matches our own ethos perfectly.
“She is a player we have admired for a long time given her standing in the game.
"To finally have secured her signature is incredibly exciting.
The signing of Ouahabi is a statement of intent for City after the exits of five international stars including England full-back Lucy Bronze.
This summer saw Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir and Janine Beckie leave the club with goalkeeper Karen Bardsley announcing her retirement.
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