Fernandinho, the Brazil midfielder, waived £4m worth of assorted payments owed to him by Shakhtar Donetsk in order to force through a move to Manchester City.

City still ended up paying around £30m for their main summer transfer target, more than they hoped, but their conviction that the money has been invested in a stellar character as well as a top player appeared vindicated when the combative deep‑lying playmaker sacrificed such a large sum.

By further reducing a fee already negotiated down to £34m from the Ukrainian club's original £42.5m, the 28-year-old's gesture accelerated a complicated relocation to Manchester.

"This is a change, a challenge and a chance I have been waiting a long time for," Fernandinho said. "Playing in the Premier League for City is like a dream. My ambition here is to win all the titles, the team here is strong and so is the greatness of the club and the supporters. Professionally this is a spectacular thing. Playing for a huge club in a huge League makes me so happy."

He will shortly be joined by Jesús Navas. The Sevilla winger's switch to City – for a fee rising to £16m rather than the £23m suggested by the La Liga club – has been delayed as Navas is in the United States with Spain but he is scheduled to undergo a medical in America next week.

City, meanwhile, will confirm Manuel Pellegrini's appointment as their manager on Monday or Tuesday. While negotiations to install the former Málaga coach as Roberto Mancini's successor are proceeding smoothly a minor technicality slowed progress.