Manchester City have sent promising youngster Marcos Lopes on loan to French club Lille.
The 18-year old Portuguese attacking midfielder has joined Les Dogues on a season-long loan as he looks to further his development away from the Etihad Stadium.
Lopes, who has appeared in five cup fixtures for City, said he was thrilled to be joining Lille ahead of the 2014/15 French Ligue 1 season.
"I feel very happy to have signed because it is a new step in my career and it is a good opportunity for me to develop as a player," he told City's official website.
"It is very important for me to play in a professional league for the first time. I think playing in the French League will be very beneficial because it is a league that is getting bigger, better and stronger every year."
He added: "It would be very exciting to be able to play Champions League football. It would be such a good experience for me to play in that competition, which everyone recognises as the best in European football."
