DEPARTING Nathan Ake thanked Cherries fans for their support after he completed a £41million move to Manchester City.

Dutchman Ake featured 121 times for Cherries across two spells, scoring 11 goals, before sealing his switch to Pep Guardiola's side yesterday after a fee was agreed between the two clubs last week.

Asked how it felt to receive messages of support after the news broke of his imminent departure, Ake told afcbTV: "Honestly it means a lot. When somebody leaves a club you don't expect everybody to be happy.

"But I actually felt like everyone was happy for me. That means a lot, 100 per cent.

"So many messages on social media but also on WhatsApp and stuff like that. So many people congratulating us and it's great if you can leave a club like this."

Looking back on his time at Cherries, having joined permanently from Chelsea for £20million in 2017 after a previous loan spell, Ake added: "I loved every minute. I loved everything.

"The minute I came here it was nice, it felt like a family straightaway.

"The first six months or so I hardly played but it was still a very good dressing room, the fans were good and I had a good connection with the gaffer straightaway so it's been very good."

He continued: "I've had a good connection with the fans as well, they've been superb. I've enjoyed every minute of it, I can't tell you enough how much I loved it here, loved living here.

"It's a beautiful place to live. I started to learn about a lot of people here, also just people on the street coming up to me and talking about random stuff. I loved every minute of it.

"I will miss everyone but hopefully I can come back one day and say goodbye properly."