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New York City to announce first signing

Manchester City will soon announce a big-name signing for their recently formed club New York City FC, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.

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New York City FC, created by a partnership between City and the New York Yankees baseball club, will enter Major League Soccer in 2015.

The designated player rule in operation in North America allows clubs to sign up to three players whose wages are exempt from the team salary cap.

NYCFC are expected to pursue some high-profile players and Al Mubarak told City's website: "Very soon you will be hearing about our first signing for our club in New York and it will be a very pleasant surprise I hope for our fans."

NYCFC will start life by playing at Yankee Stadium before a new ground can be built and will be the first MLS franchise playing in one of New York's five boroughs, with the Red Bulls being based in New Jersey.

Al Mubarak added: "This is a very exciting project we have embarked on. We have a wonderful team of individuals over there that is being set up, led by Tim [Pernetti], our CEO. We have a great coach in Jason [Kreis].

"This will be another story of organic development. This is a club that is in a wonderful city, with a great fanbase. I love how the fans selected our crest. It is a wonderful story and I think it is going to be a great success story. I am very excited about next year."

City have also invested in Japanese club Yokohama F-Marinos and own Australian club Melbourne Heart and Al Mubarak said: "It is a global sporting platform that is coming to fruition."