Iraq midfielder Nashat Akram claims he has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City.The 23-year-old midfielder, who has been training with City this week, said he will join Sven-Goran Eriksson's side after finalising terms with previous club Al Ain in Abu Dhabi and when a work permit is issued.

"I've signed a contract with Manchester City for two years and a half after finishing the medical tests," Akram told Middle Eastern television channel MBC.

"The financial terms are good although I don't prefer to talk in such matters.

"The negotiations with Manchester City started long time ago and these negotiations were enclosed until we had a successful agreement."

Eriksson told the club's website: "He is a very good football player, he will need to get used to the style of English football but he's a very elegant player and in the Asian Cup he was one of the very best in the tournament.

"He reminds me a bit of Michael Johnson, in that he can do a little bit of everything in both attack and defence.

"I think he is one for the future, I'm not sure if he's ready to play this season but I've seen him train and he's good. He's a technically correct player."

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