Edin Dzeko became Roberto Mancini's ninth signing when the Bosnian striker moved to the City of Manchester Stadium from Wolfsburg on a five-year deal in January, 2011.

Dzeko, who has scored 10 goals for Wolfsburg in 17 Bundesliga matches this season, was a target for some of Europe's leading clubs. His signing was seen as a significant statement of intent for City's League title ambitions. Dzeko was born on March 17, 1986 in Sarajevo, a city in turmoil and under seige during the break-up of the old Yugoslavia, when Edin was only six.

Now regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe, he actually began his playing career at local side FK Zeljeznicar as a midfielder. But when he moved to FK Teplice in the Czech league, Dzeko finished top scorer for the 2006-07 season with 13 goals from 30 appearances.

He moved to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2007 for €4million and made an immediate impact with five goals in 11 games, helping the club to fifth place and a UEFA Cup spot. But his second season was exceptional. Dzeko formed a potent partnership with Brazilian Grafite, scoring 26 out of the duo's record-breaking 54 goals as Wolfsburg won their first league title.

A further 10 goals in domestic and European cup competitions clinched the 2008-09 German Footballer of the Year award. Dzeko was also nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or, won by Lionel Messi. The striker, who was made a UNICEF ambassador in November 2009, became the highest League scorer in Wolfsburg's history. He scored 66 goals in 111 Bundesliga matches and 84 times in all competitions.

Dzeko has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels, impressing on his senior debut with a volleyed goal in a 2-2 draw against Turkey in June 2008, and has gone on to score 17 times in his 31 international appearances.While he just missed out on the World Cup finals in 2010 - Bosnia and Herzegovina lost in the play-offs to Portugal - Dzeko still finished the qualifying campaign as joint second-top scorer with nine goals.

Once his move from Wolfsburg to City was completed, it did not take Dzeko long to look at home in English football. He linked up superbly with Carlos Tevez to set up Yaya Toure's goal in his first game for City, an exciting win over Wolves, then he opened his account for the Blues in just his third outing to salvage a draw with Notts County in the FA Cup.

Edin couldn't have started last season better, scoring City's first goal of the season, a tap-in against Swansea before going on to bag a four goal haul against Spurs in one of the finest City striker's performances in recent memory.Dzeko went on to weigh in with a vital 14 goals in 30 appearances in the 2011/12 season, including the 92nd minute equaliser against QPR on the final day which sent City on their way to the title.

He also scored the only goal in the Blues' gritty 1-0 away win at Wigan in January which could hardly have been any more important, given the margins at the top of the table at the season's end.