Real Sociedad secures David Silva’s signature despite Lazio leading the race to sign the Spaniard

Spain international David Silva has opted and completed a deal to join Real Sociedad as a free agent on a two-year deal after his Manchester City contract expired.

Italian side, Lazio were confident of reaching an agreement to sign Silva, according to reports in Italy, and presented the 34-year-old with a three-year deal worth €10m a year.

However, the Spaniard has chosen to join Real Sociedad, who finished sixth in La Liga last season, ten years after he swapped Valencia for Manchester City.

The midfielder left Manchester City after 10 seasons playing top-flight English football at the club, where he won 11 major honours including four Premier League titles.

The 34-year-old played his final game for City in their Champions League exit to Lyon on Saturday, coming off the bench in the 3-1 quarter-final defeat.

Manchester City also announced on Monday that David Silva will be honoured with a statue outside the Etihad Stadium in recognition of his service.

Silva played over 400 times for City in his 10 seasons at the club.

Having have already commissioned a statue of former captain Vincent Kompany, who left in the summer of 2019 and retired as a player on Monday to become Anderlecht manager, the club claims the statues of both Silva and Kompany will be in place at the Etihad by next year.

Silva posted on Twitter earlier on Monday saying: “The time has arrived. Ten years and 13 titles later, it’s time for me to say goodbye to the club that has left an indelible mark on my life and career.”

“I look back and it’s clear I could not have made a better decision than to accept City’s proposal to join their project back in 2010.

“Manchester City and I have grown together. In 10 years, I have developed personally and professionally. I have celebrated many victories and titles and lived through epic moments.

“I have seen my lovely child, Mateo, born and I have even started to feel comfortable under heavy rain!

“City are a fantastic family. I won’t ever forget the way they threw themselves into helping me when I suffered the hardest moments of my life, offering me support and empathy.

“Precisely because of that I want to tell you it has been a real pleasure wearing the sky blue shirt and the captain’s armband of our club, sharing the dressing room with the best players and coaches in the world, and working closely with the finest club representatives and board members the game has to offer.

“And on top of that, all the time I had the backing of the amazing fans who have supported me always, through good and bad moments. You are really amazing.

“I hope that City will achieve even bigger triumphs in the future. I am going to support the team from a distance. I am so happy I have shared these unforgettable moments with the City family – you will always be in my heart.

“I want to send every Cityzen a huge hug.”