FC Groningen rejected an offer from Manchester City to finance their capture of Gamba Osaka's Ritsu Doan, the Eredivisie side have revealed.
Doan was on loan at Groningen for the season, but the club recently made his stay permanent and secured him on a three-year contract.
Per Goal, City were willing to contribute €2 million (£1.7 million) to help the Dutch outfit with the purchase, which would have given the club a stake in the player.
However, Groningen technical manager Ron Jans told De Telegraaf (h/t Goal): "Now we have everything in our own hands.