Sergio Aguero to leave Manchester City at the end of the season

Argentine striker to depart after 10 years and as the club's all-time leading goalscorer

Scorer of the match-winning goal, Sergio Aguero celebrates with the trophy after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium on May 13, 2012. Getty

Sergio Aguero kisses the ball to celebrate a goal and his hat-trick during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United in October 2015. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero lifts the Premier League trophy at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 11, 2014 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, left, congratulates Sergio Aguero after he scored their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage in London on March 13, 2021. AFP

Sergio Aguero scores his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage in London on March 13, 2021. AFP

Sergio Aguero vies with West Ham United's Vladimir Coufal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 27, 2021. AFP

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola briefs Sergio Aguero during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on March 10, 2021. AFP

Sergio Aguero vies with Chelsea's Kurt Zouma during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on January 3, 2021. AFP

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City with Pepe of Porto during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between Manchester City and FC Porto at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2020 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Group C stage match between Manchester City and FC Porto at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2020 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero with assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal in October 2020. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero lifts The Carabao Cup trophy following his side's victory during the Carabao Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 1, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at Etihad Stadium on January 18, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his sides fifth goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park on January 12, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Watford FC at Etihad Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Pep Guardiola celebrates victory with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City following the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Swansea City and Manchester City at Liberty Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Swansea, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates with the Premier League Trophy after winning the title following the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City at American Express Community Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Brighton, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring his team's first goal as Tom Heaton of Burnley reacts during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 28, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester City v FC Schalke 04 at Etihad Stadium on March 12, 2019 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Manchester City at St Mary's Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his team's second goal past David De Gea of Manchester United while being challenged by Victor Lindelof of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero kisses the trophy after winning the League Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is awarded a trophy for being Manchester City's all-time leading goal scorer, ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 5, 2017. AFP

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring 2-3 goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between SSC Napoli and Manchester City at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2017 in Naples, Italy. Getty Images

Pep Guardiola and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrate after winning the penalty shoot out in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Watford and Manchester City at Vicarage Road on September 16, 2017 in Watford, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at The Hawthorns on October 29, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. Getty Images

Sam McQueen of Southampton closes down Sergio Aguero during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on October 23, 2016 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero battles for the ball with Nir Bitton and Scott Brown of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and Manchester City FC at Celtic Park on September 28, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. Getty Images

Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow is beaten by a header from Sergio Aguero for the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on April 19, 2016 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta celebrate victory with the trophy after the Capital One Cup Final match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on February 28, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his fourth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his fifth and team's six goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero holding the golden boots trophy waves to supporters after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Southampton at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Manchester City and FC Bayern Muenchen at the Etihad Stadium on November 25, 2014 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero is tightly marked during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester St Mary's Stadium on November 30, 2014 in Southampton, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on August 17, 2014 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on December 14, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester City fans celebrate after Sergio Aguero scores their team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton at Etihad Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero shoots at goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Manchester City and CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium on November 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on October 27, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero signs autographs on memorabilia for Manchester City fans at Hong Kong Airport shortly after the team arrives to compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy, on July 22, 2013 in Hong Kong. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero beats Jussi Jaaskelainen of West Ham United to score the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on April 27, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the FA Cup fifth round match between Manchester City and Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium on February 17, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates winning the 2012 Premier League title as the final whistle blows during the match between Manchester City and QPR. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring against Swansea City in 2011. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City shoots at goal under pressure from Lewis Holtby of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on November 24, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero scores the third goal, from a penalty kick, during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium on January 1, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring Manchester City's third goal during the 6-1 win over rivals Manchester United. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero shoots and scores his sides second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on September 18, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero of Manchester City holds off a challenge from Joe Allen of Swansea City during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on August 15, 2011 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Sergio Aguero signs with Manchester City in 2011. Manchester City FC via Getty Images

Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced on Monday night.

Aguero, 32, joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has 257 goals in 384 games since, making him the club's record goal-scorer. He scored the dramatic winning goal as they edged local rivals Manchester United to the 2012 Premier League.

"When a cycle comes to an end, many sensations arise," he posted on social media. "A huge sense of satisfaction and pride remains in me for having played with Manchester City for a whole 10 seasons – unusual for a professional player this day and age.

"I will continue to give it my utmost for the rest of the season to win more titles and bring more joy to the fans," he added.

In a club statement, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he would reserve any farewell speeches until Aguero leaves, but revealed he had commissioned a statue of the striker.

"Sergio's contribution to Manchester City over the last 10 years cannot be overstated," Al Mubarak said.

"This is not yet the moment for farewell words and speeches. There is still much to achieve," he said with City in the Champions League quarter-finals and, with a 14-point lead, on course to win the Premier League title.

"In the meantime, it gives me great pleasure to announce that we will be commissioning an artist to create a statue of Sergio to live at the Etihad Stadium," he added.

Manchester Evening News said City were planning a farewell party for Aguero after their final game of the Premier League season against Everton May 23.

Aguero contracted Covid-19 in January after a season already ravaged by injury and he has played 14 games for City this term, scoring three times.

He missed the end of last season and the start of the current campaign after undergoing knee surgery last June. Since then he has had another lay-off after suffering a hamstring injury in October.

City coach Pep Guardiola said last week he may not be able to give Sergio Aguero much time on the pitch before his contract expires.