Official: Claudio Echeverri joins Girona on loan from Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City have confirmed that Claudio Echeverri has joined Girona on loan till the end of the season, subject to international clearance.

The 20-year-old has endured a frustrating six months in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, barely kicking a ball in the Bundesliga and struggling to kick on from an encouraging pre-season with the Manchester City first-team squad last summer.

Echeverri joined City from River Plate in January 2024 and was immediately loaned back to his boyhood club for another 12 months, with the attacking midfielder making his way to England in January 2025 – a route from Argentine to Manchester also trodden by Julian Alvarez.

Pep Guardiola handed Echeverri a surprise Manchester City senior debut in a 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley, with the Argentine coming close to levelling proceedings in an eye-catching cameo off the bench.

He went on to impress at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States last summer, notably scoring a brilliant free-kick in Manchester City’s 6-0 drubbing of Al Ain in the group-stage, before joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the 2025-26 season.

However, Manchester City have confirmed on Sunday afternoon that Echeverri’s stint at Leverkusen is over and that the Argentine will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Girona in the Spanish top-flight.

Echeverri will link up with Manchester City loanee Vitor Reis at Girona, where Etihad Stadium officials were keen to send the 20-year-old last summer, only for the playmaker and his camp to push for a preferred move to the Bundesliga.

After an unsuccessful stint in Germany, Echeverri will now pay heed to Manchester City’s mapped plan to progress his development in La Liga, with a potential view to bring him back to Manchester ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Guardiola is understood to have been left displeased with the insistence from Echeverri and his representatives to move to Germany last summer, especially when young players have traditionally respected the club’s decision regarding loan destinations.

The Manchester City manager aimed a subtle dig at Echeverri’s agent in November 2025 as the River Plate academy graduate’s club future came into doubt ahead of the ongoing transfer window, when a return to England was also mooted.

However, with Echeverri set to move to City’s sister club Girona, Guardiola will be keeping a close eye on how the midfielder gets on alongside Reis in the Spanish top-flight as the Blues progress their own rebuild under director of football Hugo Viana.

Manchester City are expected to announce the signing of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for £20 million on Monday, with the 25-year-old England international undergoing a medical on Sunday ahead of signing a five-and-a-half year contract at the Etihad Stadium.