Manchester City’s top goal-scorer, Sergio Aguero, will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, the Premier League club announced this week.
Aguero’s contract runs out at the end of the 2020/21 season when he becomes a free agent.
The 32-year-old Argentine joined the Etihad club from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has since scored a club record of 257 goals in 384 appearances. He has won four Premier League titles, on FA Cup and five League Cups.
Aguero is the highest-scoring international player in the Premier League and the fourth-top goal scorer of all time, with 181 league goals for the club.
“When a cycle comes to an end, many sensations arise,” said the Argentine player on social media.
“With the guidance of the owners and the contributions of many players, we earned a place among the greatest of the world,” he said. “The task to maintain this well-deserved privileged position will remain on others.”
Manchester City won its first English title in 44 years because of a memorable goal by Aguero in injury-time against Queens Park Rangers on the final game day of the 2011/2012 season.
Manager Pep Guardiola gave Aguero two starts since he recovered from COVID-19 in January where he scored his first league goal of the season in City’s last match against Fulham, a 3-0 win.
Aguero has been a peripheral figure for City, making eight Premier League appearances after struggling with injuries and illness.
The leaders of the Premier League, Manchester City, say there will be a statue outside the Etihad Stadium honouring the Argentine, alongside those of his former teammates David Silva and Vincent Kompany.
