( CNN ) Social media rode roughshod over traditional football transfer etiquette as Wilfried Bony completed his $ 42.5 million move to Manchester City from Swansea . Hours after pictures of Bony holding aloft a City shirt emerged on Twitter , the English Premier League champions have finally confirmed the signing of the Ivorian striker . Bony , who scored more EPL goals than any other player in 2014 , is currently with the Ivory Coast national team preparing for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations , which begins in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday . And it was the Ivory Coast Football Federation which prematurely broke news of the transfer by posting the picture on Twitter , sparking a spiky response from Bony 's now former employers Swansea . The Welsh club insisted the deal had not been completed , but now its EPL rivals City have announced the capture of the 26-year-old on a four-and-a-half-year deal . `` It 's a great feeling for me , it 's a big honor to be here and it 's a great challenge , '' Bony told City 's official website . `` As a player it 's always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it 's a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now -- I 'm really proud . `` I felt excited to wait for this moment and now it 's come , it 's fantastic . '' Bony joined Swansea from Dutch team Vitesse in 2013 and has forged a reputation as prolific goalscorer . He scored 15 EPL goals in his debut season and has found the net nine times in the current campaign , including one against his new team in November . The move sees Bony join forces with his international teammate Yaya Toure , who has been with City since 2010 . `` I speak with Yaya every day on international duty and I think he will help me to become a better player and a more clinical striker , '' added Bony . `` I 'll be playing with great players here at City and this is an opportunity for me to work hard and to take my chance . '' City will be hoping Bony can produce the goals that will help Manuel Pellegrini 's team maintain the Premier League crown and succeed in the European Champions League . Bony will be expected to fill the hole left in the team by Sergio Aguero , the Argentine who has scored 14 league goals for City this season but who is currently sidelined through injury .
Wilfried Bony joins Manchester City from Swansea City . The Ivory Coast international has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium since his £25million transfer in January. The Ivory Coast Football Federation tweeted a picture of Bony holding a City shirt .