The arrival of Sheikh Mansour transformed Manchester City’s history. Since then, the club has won eight Premier League titles and, most notably, its first long-awaited Champions League trophy, after investing €3.39 billion in signings—second only to Chelsea’s €3.86 billion.
However, Pep Guardiola’s departure has triggered an exodus that is turning Manchester City’s transfer market into a record-breaking summer.
Manchester City’s record income from player sales
In recent years, Manchester City have also become an exemplary club in the way they offload assets to help finance new signings. Since the summer of 2022, the club have generated more than €100 million in player-sales income in every season.
The previous record came in 2022-23, when City collected €161.9 million from player departures. That figure has more than doubled during the current transfer window, reaching €336.9 million.
Manchester City’s player-sales income since Sheikh Mansour’s arrival:
- 2008-09: €26.5 million
- 2009-10: €29.4 million
- 2010-11: €40.1 million
- 2011-12: €31.45 million
- 2012-13: €44.3 million
- 2013-14: €11.3 million
- 2014-15: €30.3 million
- 2015-16: €67.4 million
- 2016-17: €35.3 million
- 2017-18: €91.3 million
- 2018-19: €57.6 million
- 2019-20: €71 million
- 2020-21: €64 million
- 2021-22: €93.8 million
- 2022-23: €161.97 million
- 2023-24: €138.82 million
- 2024-25: €141.7 million
- 2025-26: €107.2 million
- 2026-27: €336.9 million
Pep Guardiola bids emotional farewell after 10 years at Manchester City
Enzo Maresca continues City’s rebuilding project
The appointment of Enzo Maresca took longer than expected because of legal matters awaiting resolution with Chelsea. His arrival was intended to continue the rebuilding process started under Guardiola, who had Maresca on his coaching staff during the 2022-23 season.
“He was the candidate who stood out the most in our evaluations. We know his personality and his vision of how football should be played. He is upright, charismatic, and passionate. In addition to his successes at Chelsea and Leicester, his track record at City speaks for itself,” explained Ferran Soriano, the club’s CEO.
“Probably the reason I’m here is also because the club’s idea is to maintain the same style and approach. But we’re going to try to do what matters most, which is to win,” pointed out Enzo Maresca, who also sought to distance himself from Guardiola.
“I’m not here to try to be a copy of anyone. Every coach is different. Probably, I don’t see football in the same way as the previous coach.”
I’m not here to try to be a copy of anyone
— Enzo Maresca, Manchester City coach
Five of City’s 10 major departures arrived within two years
To some extent, the plan had been to continue moving on players from the 2023 treble-winning squad, including John Stones, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, Bernardo Silva and even Rodri Hernández, who had one year remaining on his contract.
Nevertheless, Maresca has not opposed dismantling the squad assembled during the previous transfer windows. Five of Manchester City’s 10 major departures this summer involved players who had been at the club for less than two years.
Savinho has overtaken Julián Alvarez as the most expensive sale in Manchester City’s history, with the transfer valued at €88 million. Tijjani Reijnders, sold for €61 million, and Rodri, who moved for €60 million, have also entered the club’s top five biggest sales.
Looking at City’s 10 biggest transfers out, Nico González also features after his €56 million move. The list additionally includes James Trafford, who has become the most expensive English goalkeeper of all time after Leeds paid €47 million, and Marmoush, who joined Tottenham on loan with an obligation to buy—subject to conditions—set at €58 million.
Manchester City’s most expensive sales:
- Savinho: $87.7 million, Tottenham
- Julián Alvarez: €75 million, Atlético de Madrid
- Tijjani Reijnders: €61 million, Al Qadsiah
- Rodri Hernández: €60 million, Barcelona
- Raheem Sterling: €56.2 million, Chelsea
- Nico González: €56 million, Newcastle
- Ferran Torres: €55 million, Barcelona
- Gabriel Jesus: €52 million, Arsenal
- Leroy Sané: €49 million, Bayern Munich
- Cole Palmer: $47 million, Chelsea
City have spent €274 million on new signings
The scale of Manchester City’s transfer income has overshadowed the fact that the club have spent €274 million on signings this summer. Only Chelsea (€398 million) and Tottenham (€354 million) have spent more.
Most of City’s spending has gone toward Elliot Anderson, the most expensive signing in the club’s history at €135 million, and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has become the 18-year-old player for whom the highest transfer fee has ever been paid, at €95 million.
They have also signed Detourbet for €25 million before loaning him to Monaco after his arrival from City’s Troyes ‘affiliate’, as well as the highly rated young Jeremy Monga, born in 2009, Gero Rulli for €3.5 million and Pierce Charles for €3.5 million.
“It’s the market and anything can happen. We’ll see, there are still four or five days left. But, at this moment, it’s quite complicated for me to think about this,” he said ahead of the match against Crystal Palace.
He did, however, stress that he would like “to have two players for each position.” If that is not possible, Maresca will turn to the academy, where McAidoo, Floyd Samba and Kaden Braithwaite are pushing for opportunities.
It’s the market and anything can happen
— Enzo Maresca, Manchester City coach
Manchester City still targeting late signings
Maresca is not satisfied with the squad, despite the first signs of progress in the match against Crystal Palace.
Allan, a winger from Palmeiras, is set to arrive after City agreed a €40 million transfer to fill the gap left by Savinho. Enzo Fernández could also become the major late-window signing, with a potential fee that would surpass Elliot Anderson’s and make him the most expensive signing in Manchester City’s history.
With four days remaining in the transfer window, fresh money is available in Manchester City’s Etihad coffers.
