Manchester City announced the purchase of Germany international midfielder Ilkay Gündogan on a four-year contract on Thursday.

The 25-year-old is to join City on 1 July, becoming incoming manager Pep Guardiola's first signing at the Etihad Stadium.

And in a statement confirming Gündogan's sale, former club Borussia Dortmund appeared to get in a sly dig at the player and his new employers.

Dortmund noted that Gündogan "will leave the eight-time German champions" to move to a side "who finished last season's English Premier League in fourth place".

Despite this seeming barb, the Bundesliga outfit also thanked him for his service to the club, wishing him "all the best for his future endeavours in Manchester".