David Silva will be honoured with a statue outside the Etihad to mark his 10-year career at Manchester City.

The 34-year-old is being honoured with a sculpture at the stadium along with former captain Vincent Kompany. Both statues are expected to be unveiled next year.

The Spaniard who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in City’s history played his final game for the club in Saturday’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Lyon in Lisbon.

In addition to commissioning a statue of Silva, City has also dedicated a training pitch at the City Football Academy to him with a mosaic celebrating his role in the famous 6-1 win over Manchester United in 2011.

Silva joined City from Valencia in 2010, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups in his 436 appearances for the club.

It’s understood that chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak informed Silva of the tribute after his final Premier League game against Norwich City last month.

Al Mubarak said: ‘David Silva is a transformational player; a quiet leader who has acted quietly and deliberately and inspired everyone around him, from the youngest academy player to his senior team-mates over the past 10 years.

‘He has put a stamp on the team, on this club, its history and even the Premier League as a whole. In doing so, he has been instrumental to the beautiful football philosophy you see today. He was the start of it.

As with Vincent before him, David’s statue will act as a lasting reminder of the wonderful moments that he gave us, not only as an incredible footballer, but as an inspiring ambassador who represented this football club with great dignity at all times.’