Coventry City have signed Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda in a deal worth more than £17m.
The Switzerland centre-back has cost an initial £15.4m, with a further £1.7m in add-ons, and has signed a four-year contract with the newly-promoted Premier League club.
Amenda, 22, is understood to have been persuaded by a strong pitch from manager Frank Lampard and Coventry’s recruitment staff.
“After the first call with the gaffer, I felt the trust and I liked the project, so I feel this is a really good step for me,” he said.
“I cannot wait to meet everyone at the club, especially the fans but of course my teammates.
“I like to defend my goal but I like to play, I’m really calm with the ball so I can help the team with this.”
He was part of the Switzerland squad that reached the World Cup quarter-finals, although he did not make an appearance in the tournament.
Amenda is Coventry’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of winger Loum Tchaouna from Burnley and midfielder Frank Onyeka, who made his move from Brentford permanent.
The Sky Blues remain keen to sign goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton but have so far been unable to agree a deal and Chelsea’s Filip Jorgensen is viewed as an alternative.
After renewing Lampard’s contract this summer, Coventry began pre-season with a 3-2 behind-closed-doors friendly defeat by Wimbledon.
They next face Northampton Town and Espanyol as they prepare for their first top-flight campaign in 25 years.