Berlin, March 12 (IANS): Schalke and Manchester City have agreed on the permanent transfer of on-loan defender Matija Nastasic, both sides announced in an official statement.

After strong performances in the dress of the "Royal Blues", the 21-year-old defender was equipped with a four-year contract, which keeps him at Schalke until June 2019, reported Xinhua. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

"I am proud and happy to stay at Schalke. From day one I was immediately part of the team. I would like to help the team and the club to achieve our goals," Schalke's defender Nastasic told the club's official homepage.

The Serbian international joined Schalke in January 2015 after three years at Premier League side Manchester City, where he scored one goal in 34 appearances. After his arrival in Schalke he made seven appearances in the Bundesliga and two in the UEFA Champions League to date. Nastasic made overall 15 caps for Serbia's national squad.

Schalke currently are on the fifth place of the Bundesliga standings. They face struggling side Hertha Berlin at the 25th round on Saturday.