Manchester City completes signing of Raheem Sterling from Liverpool

Raheem Sterling's tumultuous time at Liverpool has officially come to an end.

Manchester City confirmed Tuesday that the English winger has joined the Citizens for a club-record transfer fee, signing a five-year deal at the Etihad.

Sterling, 20, will reportedly cost City £44 million in an initial fee, a figure which could increase by a further £5 million depending on various add-ons - and would then hit the £49-million mark that had been widely reported in recent days.

The English international will reportedly earn £200,000 per week with his new club - a salary that, while viewed as exorbitant to some, will make nary a dent in the Citizens' exorbitant bank account.

The move, of course, puts an end to Sterling's time at Anfield, where he went from nearly helping the Reds claim a historic - and unlikely - title in 2013-14 to seeing his relationship with the club sour beyond repair. Both sides were culpable in that accord going south, with Sterling's declaration that he rejected an improved contract offer from Liverpool leading the club to engage in a transparent smear campaign against the youngster - while his agent only made matters worse every time he opened his mouth. In that context, Tuesday's announcement comes as no surprise.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has long claimed the two men did not have an issue with one another. Judging by Liverpool's goodbye message for the young star, brief as it was bland, it's difficult to take Rodgers at his word.

The 20-year-old departs Anfield after 129 appearances and 23 goals for the Reds. Liverpool FC wishes Raheem well.

That's it. That's all.

His new club was significantly more excited.

"Raheem Sterling is one of the best attacking players in world football, and I am very much looking forward to him joining our squad out in Australia later this week," Manuel Pellegrini said of the electrifying winger.

"He is a young player with outstanding ability, and I am sure the Manchester City fans will be very excited about seeing him in action for the team."

Sterling will join the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva at City, and should combine to give Pellegrini one of the Premier League's most explosive, creative attacking units.