EXCLUSIVE: Micah snubs Newcastle and Spurs to sign £10m City deal

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Kevin Keegan had ambitiously targeted the 19-year-old as his first signing since taking over at Newcastle for the second time and Spurs had also expressed an interest in the England defender.

But Richards' advisers had insisted all along that staying at Eastlands was their priority and Sportsmail can reveal that the player is set to sign a four-and-a-half-year deal to commit his future to Sven Goran Eriksson's side.

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On the ball: Manchester City's Micah Richards (L) challenges West Ham United's Hayden Mullins at Eastlands on Sunday

The move will be a huge boost to Eriksson, who sees Richards' signing as a signal of Manchester City's ambition.

There had been concern at the length of time it has taken to complete but the deal had been complicated by Richards changing representatives during negotiations.

That alerted five Premier League sides, and while the player was on just £15,000-a-week, there were worries he would be tempted by a far higher offer.

In the end, City have put together a package that will earn Richards in excess of £50,000-a-week and secure his immediate future at Eastlands.

He did have just over two years remaining on the contract he signed in 2006, but his lot has risen dramatically since breaking into the England squad.

The new deal will run until 2012, although City are braced for renewed approaches for the current England right back in two years' time.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all monitored Richards' situation but the player was insistent that staying at City as he continued to progress was essential to his development.

It is also felt that being a first team regular is imperative, something United, Arsenal or Chelsea could not offer.

Richards broke into Manchester City's first team at just 17 and made his full international debut 12 months later, becoming England's youngest ever defender when he made he faced Holland in 2006. He has been at City since he was a youngster.