Bayer Leverkusen are set to sign Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia.
The 26-year-old played an important role as Girona recorded their best league finish, ending the season third in La Liga and competing in the title race for over half of the campaign.
Leverkusen are set to pay €18million (£15.2m; $19.3m,) plus a further €2m in add-ons for the Spain international, roughly equivalent to the €20m release clause in his Girona contract.
The Athletic reported in January that Garcia was being targeted by Barcelona and was highly regarded by senior figures at the Catalan club.
Garcia made 37 La Liga appearances last term, providing three goals and six assists, and was named in the division’s team of the season. His form was rewarded with a maiden call-up to the Spain senior side in November but he missed out on a place in their European Championship squad.
Garcia progressed through the Villarreal academy before moving to Manchester City in 2015. He spent five years with the Premier League club but made just nine appearances and spent two seasons on loan at fellow City Football Group (CFG) side Girona between 2017 and 2019.
Garcia then moved permanently to Dinamo Bucuresti in 2020, before initially signing for Eibar and then re-joining Girona in 2021.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, secured their first Bundesliga title last season as Xabi Alonso’s side went the entire league season unbeaten to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year title-winning streak.
GO DEEPER
How Aleix Garcia’s Beckham-style set pieces are pushing Girona towards Europe
(Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
