Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph ruled out an £8 million move to Manchester City in a statement on Saturday.
The midfielder is one of Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s targets to increase his side’s home-grown quota after the departures of James Milner to Liverpool and Frank Lampard to New York City.
Although Delph signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Villa in January, Pellegrini was reportedly willing to meet the release clause.
And Delph’s transfer seemed likely after Micah Richards, who moved from City to Villa, said Delph had asked about his thoughts on the Sky Blues.
The 25-year-old also did not travel with the Villa squad for their pre-season training camp in Portugal on Thursday.
Rumours of Delph’s departure from Villa were further fueled after reports on Friday that he was set to undergo a medical with City over the weekend, and that City had placed an £8 million bid for the England international.
However, Delph has quelled the rumours and assured manager Tim Sherwood and Villa fans that he plans to stay at Villa Park.
“I’m not leaving,” said Delph in a statement released on Villa’s website. “I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
Delph made 28 league appearances in the 2014-15 season to help Villa retain their Premier League status, and he played a key role as his side made it to the FA Cup final, where they lost 4-0 to Arsenal.
