Manchester City have finalized a comprehensive squad reconstruction, headlined by a total summer expenditure of £458m—a new record for a Premier League transfer window. This massive investment, overseen by director of football Hugo Viana in support of new manager Enzo Maresca, reflects a strategic push to refresh the team following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
The club’s transfer activity saw their record fee broken twice during the window. The midfield has undergone a total transformation following the exits of captain Bernardo Silva, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez. To fill these voids, City secured three major signings: Enzo Fernandez, brought in from Chelsea for a joint-British record of £125m; Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for £116m; and 18-year-old Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi, who joined for £86m. Combined, these three players cost the club £327m.
Club officials have expressed satisfaction with the recent business, which builds upon earlier moves made in January to secure long-term targets Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi. This current overhaul is part of a wider project that began in January 2025, following a challenging start to that season. The scale of the transition is evident in the fact that only four players remain from the squad that secured the 2023 Champions League title against Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Despite the high-profile midfield acquisitions, questions remain regarding the depth of the squad, particularly whether the club has adequately addressed the lack of a direct backup for striker Erling Haaland. Nevertheless, the club maintains that the current squad is stronger than at the start of the previous season, providing Maresca with the luxury of two established options for nearly every position. By adhering to a calm and disciplined transfer strategy, City believes they have successfully balanced their books while preparing for the challenges ahead. The report also notes that but that eyewatering sum does not tell the full story. The report also notes that the trio accounted for the bulk of City’s summer incomings. The report also notes that and, despite the vast amount of money spent, have they actually left themselves without a back-up to Erling Haaland.
