Manchester City to sign 18-year-old Croatian Ante Palaversa from Hajduk Split

SPLIT, 27 January 2019 – Manchester City are set to sign Hajduk Split’s Croatian youth international Ante Palaversa for a reported £7m.

Daily Slobodna Dalmacija exclusively reports on Sunday that the deal is done with the 18-year-old Croatian central midfielder flying out to Manchester tomorrow where he will undergo a medical at the club. 

“Tomorrow he will fly out to Manchester and on Tuesday he will undergo a medical. He will then sign a 4 and a half year contract with the the club,” writes Slobodna Dalmacija. 

Palaversa, who is captain of the Croatia U-19 team, is expected to be loaned back to Hajduk Split for one more season to continue his development. 

Manchester City have reportedly been following Palaversa for a while now. He made his first team debut for Hajduk Split last summer in the UEFA Europa League qualifier.

“Palaversa has made huge progress in the past few years, first in the youth teams at Hajduk but also, crucially, after making the step up to the first team last summer. He is already rated as one of the best central midfielders in the Croatian league. He has some similarities to Toni Kroos with his football intelligence and reading of the game setting him apart. Despite being only 18 he is extremely good at knowing when to stay behind and when to join in attack. He is an excellent passer of the ball and his technique is impressive while also being able to compete physically,” the Guardian wrote when the transfer rumours started. 

Hajduk Split is set to earn a reported £5m from the deal, plus almost £1m if he plays a certain number of matches for Manchester City and a percentage of any future transfers.