Stephen Ireland - rated at £8m - has moved to Villa Park in the
opposite direction as part of the deal.
Milner has been handed the No 7 shirt and could face Liverpool
in his first match on Monday night. He was not registered in time
for Thursday's Europa League clash with Timisoara.
Mancini said: 'I am very happy to have James with us, everybody
knows we have admired him for some time.
'He is an excellent midfielder, who can play in a number of
positions. This is important for the team, and I am looking forward
to seeing him play for us. We have a very strong squad, and this
signing is a very important one for us.
'James he is already a very good player, who has proved he can
play at the very top level. 'But he is also young and a good
character, I think he can also improve and be a great player for
Manchester City for a long time.'
On his way out: Stephen Ireland
On Ireland's departure, Mancini added: 'I hope things go
well for Stevie at Villa. He is also a very good player, and he has
played a big part in City’s history.
'I think he will enjoy the change of being at another club, and
I hope he does well for Aston Villa.'
Milner's future had been the subject of ongoing speculation
since Villa rejected a bid of around £20million from City in
May.
Then Villa boss Martin O'Neill revealed last month that the
midfielder had asked for a move away from Villa Park and had
refused to sign a new contract.
Villa's decision to sell Milner and how much of the fee O'Neill
would be able to reinvest in the transfer market were rumoured to
be key factors in the Northern Irishman's shock resignation last
week.
Under O'Neill, Milner developed into one of England's top
midfielders last season, proving a revelation after moving from the
wing into the centre.
The two clubs finally agreed a fee but the deal was held up
still further by the involvement of Ireland, who reportedly
demanded a £2million pay-off from City.
Milner played in Villa's opening Barclays Premier League game of
the season against West Ham last Saturday and scored in a 3-0 win,
earning a standing ovation as he bade his farewell.
But the transfer has now finally gone through, bringing an end
to two years at Villa Park for Milner and eight years with City for
Ireland.
Ireland, now 23, looked set for a great future at Eastlands
after breaking into the first team as a teenager and then picking
up the club's player of the year award for the 2008/09 season.
But his opportunities dried up once Mancini replaced Mark Hughes
last autumn and the Italian made it clear Ireland's future lay
elsewhere
Milner becomes City's eighth signing of the transfer window and
follows in the footsteps of former Villa team-mate Gareth Barry,
who moved to Eastlands last summer.
He said: "It didn't take too much selling by the boss when you
see the players who are already here.
"The last thing he said to me was 'be ready to win the Premier
League'.
"That's my ultimate aim - that's why I'm here."
