The Paraguayan has spent the last two campaigns at Blackburn Rovers and Real Betis in similar deals.
The former Bayern Munich man has long been considered surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium as City manager Roberto Mancini preferred Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko ahead of him last season.
Santa Cruz signed for City for £18m in 2009.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Manchester CityMan City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | 44 | 73 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 75 | 26 | 49 | 71 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 32 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 72 | 31 | 41 | 71 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 33 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 68 | 49 | 19 | 63 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | 16 | 60 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 52 | 17 | 50 |
| 7 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 |
| 8 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 33 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 58 | -6 | 48 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 31 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 61 | 52 | 9 | 47 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | 2 | 44 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 43 |
| 12 | Fulham | 33 | 12 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 42 |
| 13 | Bournemouth | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 47 | 57 | -10 | 42 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 32 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 37 | 54 | -17 | 33 |
| 15 | Brentford | 33 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 58 | -11 | 32 |
| 16 | Everton | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 48 | -16 | 27 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 33 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 58 | -16 | 26 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 33 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 46 | 70 | -24 | 25 |
| 19 | Burnley | 33 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 33 | 68 | -35 | 20 |
| 20 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 32 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 84 | -54 | 16 |
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