Manchester City have completed the signing of Portsmouth striker Benjani for an initial fee of £3.87 million.

Zimbabwe international Benjani has joined on a two-and-a-half-year deal after agreeing terms and completing a medical with the Eastlands club following a protracted negotiation period.

The Premier League and Football Association have approved the transfer.

"I would like to thank Portsmouth Football Club, the Premier League and the Football Association for their help, understanding and assistance in enabling this transfer to be completed to the satisfaction of all concerned," City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said.

"In particular I would like to thank [chief executive] Peter Storrie of Portsmouth and [chairman] Sir David Richards of the Premier League for their hard work and pragmatism."

The player arrived late in Manchester on transfer deadline day after missing his flight, putting the deal in jeopardy.

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was relieved that it has now finally gone through.

"I am delighted that we have signed such a quality player," he said. "I am looking forward to working with him straight away."

The fee for Benjani, 29, will rise to almost double the initial figure if the player records 75 appearances in a sky blue shirt.

The Zimbabwe captain signed for Pompey in 2006 after four years with Auxerre in Ligue 1 and has hit 12 goals this season.

Pompey ran through a move for former Tottenham Hotspur goal-getter Jermain Defoe at the last minute on January 31, expecting the Benjani transfer to go through at the same time.

Defoe scored on his debut against Chelsea at the weekend to earn a draw while Benjani was forced to wait to learn his fate.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport