Israeli midfielder joins Man City after Barcelona exit
Assulin (right) in action in a friendly against City last year
Manchester City have signed Israeli international midfielder Gai Assulin on a two-and-a-half year deal after the 19-year-old left Barcelona.
Assulin, who became Israel's youngest international when he won his first cap aged just 16, had been linked with several teams including Arsenal.
"As soon as I saw the club [City] I wanted to stay. I'm at a great club and hope to be here a long time," he said.
"I have to take my opportunity and learn every day in training."
Assulin, who played against City in a prestige Nou Camp friendly at the start of last season, said he hoped to follow in the footsteps of another former Barcelona player, Yaya Toure, who is now a first-team regular at City.
"I speak with Yaya every day - and I hope to be playing alongside him," he said.
Assulin is a regular for the Israel U21 side and won his first cap for the senior side in a friendly against Chile in 2008, two weeks before his 17th birthday.
When he came on in the 78th minute, he broke Ben Sahar's record for the youngest debut by 195 days.
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