Manchester City’s 10 most expensive signings of all time

On the earth of soccer, few golf equipment have remodeled their fortunes by means of the switch market as dramatically as Manchester City.

Since being taken over by billionaire Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, the Sky Blues have invested over £2.2 billion in constructing a number of the most formidable squads in soccer historical past.

Metropolis’s switch technique has usually centred round high-profile signings like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez – gamers who carry instant star energy and influence. Nevertheless, the membership has additionally proven a eager eye for growing younger abilities with immense potential.

Academy graduate Phil Foden is a shining instance of homegrown success, whereas signings like Ruben Dias and Julian Alvarez have demonstrated Metropolis’s capability to mix huge spending with good scouting and improvement.

This January has seen Metropolis flex their monetary muscle as soon as extra, with three big-money recruits – together with Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush – arriving to salvage what they will from a below-par marketing campaign so far.

Right here, we rank Manchester Metropolis’s 20 most costly transfers, with an in depth take a look at the highest 10 gamers who’ve helped outline an period of unprecedented success.

Here is an in depth take a look at Manchester Metropolis’s 10 most costly signings…

10

Kevin De Bruyne

£55m from Wolfsburg, 2015

Although his Manchester Metropolis profession appears to be in its closing levels, Kevin De Bruyne has been value each single penny of the £55m paid by the Citizens to Wolfsburg in 2015.

The Premier League’s greatest-ever midfielder and Metropolis’s greatest-ever participant, the good Belgian and his wand-like proper foot has fired the membership to heights they as soon as by no means would have imagined. From numerous assists to clutch targets, De Bruyne has been the beating coronary heart of a workforce that has dominated English soccer and at last conquered Europe with their historic Champions League triumph.

Associated

9 players who could leave Manchester City

It has been a poor season for Man Metropolis in comparison with their requirements, so Pep Guardiola could have his eye on a number of modifications within the coming months.

9

Jeremy Doku

£55.4m from Rennes, 2023

Jeremy Doku’s time on the Etihad continues to be in its infancy, however typically talking, it has been to date, so good for the younger winger.

The Belgium worldwide is a pleasure to observe, dribbling out and in of gamers for enjoyable and customarily inflicting a nightmare for the opposition together with his electrical tempo and flicks and tips. His finish product has additionally improved massively since moving from Rennes to Manchester for £55.4m in 2023.

There’s a lot extra to return from Doku, and Metropolis followers shall be desperate to see how he continues to develop.

8

Aymeric Laporte

£57m, from Athletic Membership, 2018

Aymeric Laporte spent 5 and a half seasons at Manchester Metropolis following his £57m move from Athletic Club in 2018, which was then a club-record price.

Throughout that point, he helped the membership win 5 Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League, constantly impressing together with his commanding performances on the coronary heart of Pep Guardiola’s defence.

Metropolis allowed him to hitch Saudi membership Al-Nassr in 2023 for a comparatively modest £23.6m – a choice they could now remorse given their ongoing struggles with accidents and high quality in defence.

7

Riyad Mahrez

£60m from Leicester Metropolis, 2018

Riyad Mahrez does not all the time get the credit score he deserves in discussions about Manchester Metropolis greats, however there is not any doubt he is earned his place amongst them.

Mahrez joined for £60m from Leicester City in 2018 having dazzled for the Foxes amid their iconic title success, and at last obtained his big-club transfer two years later as Pep Guardiola got here calling.

With technical high quality to rival the most effective to play the sport and a primary contact that made even Zinedine Zidane seem like a Sunday League participant, Mahrez was a real magician on the ball.

His dribbling, imaginative and prescient and talent to attain essential targets constantly set him aside, significantly in Metropolis’s most important moments. Mahrez could not have all the time been the headline act, however his affect and brilliance on the pitch have been key to Metropolis’s success throughout his time on the membership.

Associated

The 12 highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League

All these gamers are on obscene quantities of cash…

6

Joao Cancelo

£60m from Juventus, 2019

Joining from Juventus for a hefty £60m, Joao Cancelo’s first season at Manchester Metropolis threatened to be a pricey mistake, with the Portuguese full-back struggling for type and discovering it troublesome to adapt to the calls for of the Premier League as a standard extensive defender.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s choice to remodel him into an inverted full-back proved to be a masterstroke. In his second season, Cancelo flourished, turning into top-of-the-line gamers within the division, showcasing his versatility and technical brilliance.

However the rise was short-lived. Simply 18 months later, Cancelo left Manchester City amid a fallout, later labelling the membership “ungrateful”.

5

Rodri

£62.8m from Atletico Madrid, 2019

Rodri’s significance to Manchester Metropolis has by no means been extra obvious, with the £62.8m acquisition from Atletico Madrid sidelined attributable to an anterior cruciate ligament harm.

With out their beating coronary heart in the midst of the park, Metropolis have regarded disjointed, with their rhythm and management over matches noticeably disrupted. They’ve additionally been missing a purpose risk from midfield – one thing Rodri has added to his already distinctive sport lately.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner isn’t just a defensive powerhouse; his management, passing vary, and talent to pop up with essential targets have made him one of the crucial full midfielders in world soccer.

Associated

Why Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or

Not even a season-ending harm might cease Manchester Metropolis’s Rodri from claiming soccer’s greatest particular person prize.

4

Omar Marmoush

£63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025

Omar Marmoush sealed a sensational £63m move to the Etihad in January after a stellar first half of the season within the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, the place he scored 15 targets and offered 10 assists in simply 17 video games.

Pacey, versatile and unpredictable, the Egyptian ahead’s debut for Metropolis towards Chelsea was a promising sign of things to come.

Even Haaland, a person identified for his one-man wrecking-ball performances up prime, says he cannot wait to play with him extra usually.

“There’s a purpose Metropolis introduced him as a result of he has one thing particular,” Haaland said after Marmoush’s debut. “He’s going to be a implausible participant for us.”

Associated

Solanke, Man Utd duo, Kvaratskhelia: The 11 biggest signings of 2024/25

There have been some eye-watering sums of cash spent on gamers this season, however who has been the most costly addition?

3

Ruben Dias

£65m from Benfica, 2020

Little doubt one of many world’s greatest central defenders, Ruben Dias has confirmed to be a shrewd acquisition for Metropolis since his £65m move from Benfica in 2020.

The Portuguese stalwart has introduced a stage of consistency and self-discipline to Guardiola’s backline that was beforehand missing, main by instance and commanding the defence with each composure and tactical nous.

“Ruben just isn’t enjoying simply his sport. He’s enjoying the sport for everybody,” Guardiola said of Dias in 2023. “He has the flexibility to see and resolve the issues for a lot of issues. His character is so vital. His management is big.”

2

Josko Gvardiol

£77m from RB Leipzig, 2023

Although usuallly performed as a left-back by Guardiola, Josko Gvardiol is so good, he might actually play anyplace on the pitch.

A commanding defender, he’s strong within the sort out, dominant within the air and reads the sport with a powerful maturity for his age. Nevertheless, what units him aside is his capability to contribute offensively. Not solely is he a terrific ball-carrier and dribbler, however he additionally possesses a eager eye for a cross, usually creating alternatives within the closing third.

Gvardiol has a knack for scoring, too. He is already reached double figures in targets for the Sky Blues since his 2023 transfer from RB Leipzig, which cost the Citizens £77m.

It’s clear that Metropolis’s funding in him has paid off, with the 23-year-old quickly turning into one of the crucial full defenders in world soccer.

1

Jack Grealish

£100m from Aston Villa, 2021

Manchester Metropolis’s file signing by some margin, Jack Grealish has received virtually every little thing there may be to win since his 2021 transfer from Aston Villa, together with three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League.

Nevertheless, his stuffed trophy cupboard should not detract from the truth that he seems to be a shadow of the participant he as soon as was at Villa Park.

At Villa, the Englishman was enigmatic, thrilling and generally controversial – a mix that made him a pleasure to observe and an unpredictable handful for opposition groups.

However since his then-British-record £100m move to City, his sense of individualism appears to have been coached out of him by Guardiola. As an alternative of taking his man on, he’ll reduce and play the easy cross. As an alternative of taking pictures on purpose from distance, he’ll lay it off to a teammate.

Whereas this is not all the time a foul factor, it is unhappy to see one of many Premier League’s true fashionable mavericks flip into simply one other cog in soccer’s most effective machine.

Together with his enjoying time on the Etihad now dwindling, he might quickly be given the possibility to showcase his particular person brilliance as soon as once more for a brand new membership.

Associated

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Qualified teams, format, venues & how to watch

The FIFA Membership World Cup takes place subsequent summer time, with loads of groups set to go to the US in July 2025.