Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony has become the most expensive African player of all time after completing a £28 million move from Swansea City to English Premier League champions, Manchester City.

Bony’s move was completed despite the player being away on national duty as the Ivorians prepare for the 2015 African Cup of Nations. The move was confirmed by both Premier League clubs after Bony passed a medical in the United Arab Emirates – venue of Ivory Coast training camp.

Bony arrives at Manchester City with credible pedigree having emerged as the Premier League’s scorer in the calendar year of 2014. The striker also proved his abilities in a Swansea shirt after scoring 34 goals in 70 games since joining in 2013.

Bony has described the move as an honour and, at the same time, a challenge.

“It’s a great feeling for me, it’s a big honour to be here and it’s a great challenge. As a player it’s always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now — I’m really proud,” he said.

“I felt excited to wait for this moment and, now it’s come, it’s fantastic. I think it’s a great decision for me — Manchester City is in the Champions League. You remember at the end of last season I said that if I want to move it will be to a team in the competition because it’s a great tournament that I really want to play in and one that I want to win,” he added.

“It’s a motivation for me to give my maximum to be in that place. City is a big club with great players with a lot of experience; I believe we can do it,” said City’s new signing.

Bony move sees him usurp Emmanuel Adebayor as Africa’s most expensive footballer. Adebayor’s move from Arsenal to City for £25 million had him topping the list before Bony’s transfer with Michael Essien’s transfer to Chelsea for £24 million. as well as Yaya Toure’s £24m price tag when he joined Manchester City putting them in joint third alongside Didier Drogba who cost Chelsea £24m when he moved to England from Marseille.

Interestingly, Ivory Coast have produced Africa’s most expensive talent with the trio of Wilfried Bony, Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba commanding combined fees of £76 million. Manchester City have also proven to be trusted buyers of African talent as they have spent £77 million on three of the top five players most expensive African players.