Manchester City sign striker Santa Cruz

Manchester City have signed Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers, the Premier League club said yesterday.

"I'm very happy to have signed for City," Santa Cruz told reporters after agreeing a four-year contract.

"It's been close to happening for a while, and now I can just focus on football and concentrate on doing my best for the club.

City gave no details of the deal for the 27-year-old who joined Rovers from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in 2007. British media said the fee was around £18 million.

City, owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayad al Nahyan, have also signed England midfielder Gareth Barry from Aston Villa as they bid to push for Champions League qualification next season.

Santa Cruz links up again with City manager Mark Hughes who signed him when in charge at Rovers.

"We're obviously delighted to get him here," Hughes said.

"It was really important that we signed him, because it's an area of the squad that we have needed to address for some time."