Soccer:New Manchester City signing Kolo Toure claimed today his move from Arsenal to Eastlands has been on the cards for six months. The 28-year-old defender has signed a four-year contract with City after ending a seven-year spell at Arsenal.

He follows former Gunners team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor in joining Mark Hughes's side, but claims he knew he would be moving long before the Togo international's transfer.

"I think before Adebayor we knew," he said at his presentation. "There was some talk about coming here. It's from six months ago."

Toure described the move as a fresh start for him after seven years at Arsenal, describing it as a loving relationship.

"They showed that they really want me and I'm wholly happy," he said. "When you love a woman and she gives you back the love you are really happy and that's what I can see at City.

"They have given me the love and I'm really delighted to bring them back the love.

"With Arsenal I was there seven years and when you play somewhere for seven years sometimes you need a change in your life and that's what I was thinking and then Man City came and they are the right club for me as they have a full project on view."

Toure claims he had received offers from abroad, but never contemplated leaving the Premier League.

"I was the last one in the 'Invincibles' team (the Arsenal side that went a whole season unbeaten in the league) and I was expecting to leave Arsenal.

"I think Arsenal are a really good team, but it was the right time for me to move.

"First I thought I did not want to leave England, even though other teams came in for me. But it was important not to leave for me and my family."

"Manchester City are a really good team and want to do something. I am really delighted to be here, the future is big."

Toure feels his new employers can challenge for the Premier League title next season.

He added: "Yes, I believe (so), that's why I am here. The quality is big, there are fantastic players here.

"I will give everything I have to make the club one of the best in England."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has tipped the revamped City squad to challenge for the Premier League title this season, but Hughes is not getting too excited by the hype.

"There's a number of managers in and around us that use our situation to possibly lessen expectations of their own club," he said. "I don't think Martin's the only manager of teams that could potentially be in and around us that have mentioned we should win the title. It maybe eases the pressure on them."

A busy day at Eastlands on Wednesday also saw Nedum Onuoha sign a new five-year contract with the club, much to Hughes' delight.

"It was never in my thoughts to involve him in any deal," said the former Blackburn boss. "We're delighted he's committed himself to the club. This is his club. It's important to have a core of players who have a real empathy for the club."

One player who will not be in Hughes' plans for next season is Brazil midfielder Elano, whose departure for Galatasaray was confirmed this morning.

"It's a big year for Ela, a World Cup year," said Hughes. "Obviously he wants to stay in and around the Brazil national squad. Obviously this year the guarantee that he would play week in week out wasn't there for him and I think that was key to his decision to leave.

"He's moved on and it's a good deal for the club and a good deal for him as well by all accounts. We wish him well."

City's spending shows no sign of letting up.

Everton have already rejected Manchester City's latest offer of €21million for Joleon Lescott. City contacted their Barclays Premier League rivals with the increased bid for the central defender but the Toffees have turned it down.

Earlier this summer, the Eastlands club had a bid of €17.5m rejected, with Everton boss David Moyes insisting no player will leave Goodison Park this summer without his approval.

A club statement read: "We can confirm we have received an offer of £18m for Joleon Lescott from Manchester City and that offer has been rejected outright."

Toure says he is not concerned about the number of players who arrive with designs on a first-team place.

"I'm just here to do my job and I just want the team to go forward," he said. "I leave everything to the manager and the board to do what they want to do but for me, I'm delighted to be here and give my 100 per cent to get the team on top.

"The team want to progress, the club wants to progress and everything the club does is to make sure we play at the top of the league and that's a really good objective and I'm on board now and I will do everything I can for the team."