The defensive midfielder will join subject to a medical, and Roberto Mancini hailed his arrival, though seemed disrespectful to Everton as he swooped for their star.

"He is a good, young player. It will be the first time he is at a club that plays to win - it will be different for him," Mancini said.

"I am sure that in a couple of years he will be a top, strong midfielder because he has good quality.

"We are looking for other players, I don't know which players. I don't want to say, speak to [City's chief football operations officer] Brian Marwood. I am waiting and tomorrow we will have time to talk about new players."