Pep Guardiola has affirmed that long-serving midfielder Yaya Toure will leave Manchester City next month after eight successful seasons with the Premier League champions.

The Ivory Coast international turns 35 on the last day of the current campaign and has been a key part of City’s rise to prominence under their wealthy Abu Dhabi owners.

Toure is out of contract at the end of the season and he will not be offered a new deal by Guardiola.

The City manager was adamant however, said Toure will receive a memorable send-off when the club end their home campaign against Brighton next week, an indication of his contribution to the cause over nearly a decade.

Even though he has found his opportunities scaled down this season, having been limited to nine appearances off the bench in the Blues’ title-winning campaign, Toure will still qualify for his third Premier League winner’s medal.

Toure’s spell with City, since signing from Barcelona for £24 million ($32 million, 27 million euros) in July 2010, has seen him win with three League Cups and an FA Cup, in addition to his trio of Premier League crowns.

But Guardiola said his influence extended far beyond simple on-field success.

Guardiola will finally get his hands on the Premier League trophy following the league game with struggling Huddersfield on Sunday.

England is the third different country in which he has led a club to the league title following successes in Spain and Germany with Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively.

But the goal of winning the Champions League proved beyond City this season, although Guardiola insisted he felt no frustration this week when their quarter-final conquerors, Liverpool, reached the final.