Manchester City have been active in the transfer market this summer, both bringing in new talent and allowing several players to depart following the arrival of new manager Enzo Maresca. The club’s most significant incoming is Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with City breaking their transfer record to secure his signature for a fee of £116 million. This makes the 23-year-old midfielder the most expensive English player of all time, surpassing the previous record held by Jack Grealish.
Anderson, who was with England at the World Cup during negotiations, has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and is expected to become a key figure in City’s midfield. In addition to Anderson, City have re-signed former academy product Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday for £3 million, with the 20-year-old goalkeeper signing a five-year deal. The club also brought in 19-year-old winger Mathys Detourbet from Troyes for £21.7 million, though he has immediately been loaned to Monaco.
Several players have also exited the club. Nathan Ake has joined Fenerbahce for a fee of £7 million, potentially rising to £8.5 million with add-ons, bringing an end to his six-year spell at City where he won four Premier League titles. Veteran midfielder Bernardo Silva departed for Real Madrid on a free transfer after seven years with the club, making 460 appearances and winning six league titles. John Stones, whose contract expired, has been released and is currently seeking a new club after a decade at the Etihad.
Manuel Akanji’s loan to Inter Milan has been made permanent for a fee of £13 million after the Italian club met the conditions of his deal, and young centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has joined Koln for £4.2 million following a successful loan spell. Detourbet’s move to Monaco is a season-long loan, with the option for a permanent transfer. City are also reportedly considering further additions, particularly in midfield and at right-back, following Anderson’s arrival. The future of goalkeeper James Trafford is also under scrutiny after a season largely spent on the bench.
These moves signal a clear intent from City to evolve under Maresca, refreshing the squad while maintaining a core of established talent. The departures of experienced players like Silva and Ake create opportunities for younger players to step up, while the arrival of Anderson adds a dynamic presence to the midfield.
