Micah Richards has left Premier League champions Manchester City, joining Italian side Fiorentina on a season-long loan.

The defender is City's longest serving player, having made 245 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2005.

However, he had found game-time harder to come by under Manuel Pellegrini after knee injuries in recent seasons.

A product of the Sky Blues' academy, Richards also played for Team GB at the London Olympics.

He is the second Englishman to sign for a Serie A club this summer after Ashley Cole joined Roma.