Republic of Ireland international defender Richard Dunne will sign for Manchester City today after agreeing terms with the Maine Road club yesterday.

Dunne will cost Joe Royle's team £3m from Everton after the clubs agreed a fee at the weekend. The 21-year-old Dubliner travelled to Manchester yesterday to meet club officials and came away satisfied with the terms on offer.

The move puts an end to Dunne's nightmare at Everton. Boss Walter Smith seemed to have a downer on the Irishman which made his life very difficult.

He was even dropped from a game because he shared a joke with a fellow Everton player on the trip home from a cup defeat.

Dunne, who played his last match for Everton against Southampton at the weekend, will be in line to face the same team next Monday for his new team.

Manchester City boss Joe Royle knows Dunne well. He gave the player his debut for Everton, while manager at Goodison, when the Irishman was only 17.

Dunne wants to play in the centre but it remains to be seen whether he will get his way at Maine Road.