Man City's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

10 May 2022 18:30 BST |
Updated: 22 Sept 2026 19:50 BST

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When Sheikh Mansour purchased the club in August 2008, Manchester City’s fortunes were changed forever, with the influx of money ensuring they were able to attract the best players in the world.

The €43 million signing of Robinho just days into Mansour’s reign set things in motion, and since then he has spent billions on transfers.

With over 20 trophies in total, including the historic treble in 2022-23, it’s fair to say that Mansour’s money has brought immense success to Man City.

Below, FootballTransfers lists Man City’s 10 most expensive signings of all time.

10. Rodri – €70m (from Atletico Madrid, 2019)

Rodri was the player selected by Man City to replace the ageing Fernandinho, and they couldn’t have picked a better signing if they tried.

After a sluggish first year in which he adjusted to English football, Rodri came into his own in 2020-21, helping the side to yet another Premier League triumph.

His value to Man City was epitomised when he finished fifth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, while he was immortalised when he scored the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final. He then won the Ballon d’Or the following year.

When Pep Guardiola left the club in the summer of 2026, Rodri followed suit, joining Barcelona after captaining Spain to their second World Cup success and winning the tournament’s Golden Ball award.

9. Ruben Dias – €71.6m (from Benfica, 2020)

Now, this was a risk. Ruben Dias was seen as an immense talent in Portugal, but his slight weakness in defending large spaces caused many to worry about his big-money move to Man City.

However, he eased those concerns within weeks of his arrival in England, before guiding City to Premier League glory, and winning the FWA Player of the Year award in a stellar first season.

He went from strength to strength from there and was pivotal in the treble-winning season of 2022-23, before helping the club win another Premier League title the following year.

8. Antoine Semenyo – €72m (from Bournemouth, 2026)

Antoine Semenyo made this list following his €72m move from Bournemouth in January 2026.

The Ghana forward had enjoyed an eye-catching 2024-25 campaign with Andoni Iraola’s side, but he snubbed significant interest in his signature by signing a new contract with the Cherries.

However, Semenyo began the new season in red-hot form, and after 14 goal contributions in the first 20 Premier League matches of 2025-26, Man City fought off substantial competition to sign him for €72m during the winter transfer window.

He won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup just a few months after his arrival.

7. Omar Marmoush – €75m (from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025)

Man City endured an uncharacteristically poor start to the 2024-25 campaign and decided to act in the January window, splashing more than €200m on new signings.

The most expensive arrival – and indeed the club’s biggest-ever January arrival – was Eintracht Frankfurt hotshot Omar Marmoush, who joined for a whopping €75m.

The Egyptian had set the Bundesliga alight with 20 goals and 14 assists in just 27 appearances before moving to City. He started his career at the Etihad Stadium in similar fashion, but this didn’t last.

After playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland for a season, he was loaned to Tottenham with a €58m purchase obligation in the summer of 2026.

6. Kevin De Bruyne – €76m (from Wolfsburg, 2015)

Signed the year before Guardiola arrived, Kevin De Bruyne joined Man City with the weight of the English press’ criticism on his shoulders.

After an underwhelming spell at Chelsea, in which he was never really given a fair shot, he then lit up the Bundesliga, and after signing for City, De Bruyne became one of the world’s best players.

The Belgian hit double-digits for trophies won, made over 350 appearances, and contributed to over 225 goals. De Bruyne is a Manchester City legend, and one of their greatest ever signings.

It’s hard to think that €76m could be a bargain, but De Bruyne proved that it’s possible before his Bosman move to Napoli in 2025.

5. Josko Gvardiol – €90m (from RB Leipzig, 2023)

Josko Gvardiol became the most expensive defender in football history when he joined Man City from Leipzig for €90m in the summer of 2023.

Gvardiol had emerged as arguably the best young defender on the planet in the Bundesliga and was one of the stars at the 2022 World Cup as Croatia made it all the way to the semi-finals.

Gvardiol had a mixed first season at City as he had to adjust to being used primarily in a nominal left-back role, but he eventually recaptured his Leipzig form and became a key starter.

4. Ayyoub Bouaddi – €95m (from Lille, 2026)

An era ended in 2026 when Pep Guardiola departed Man City, sparking a veritable exodus, particularly of midfielders. As a result, the club had to completely revamp their engine room – and they went big.

The cheapest midfield signing of the summer of 2026 was Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi. The €95m fee made him the most expensive 18-year-old ever at the time of his transfer, with Man City betting on his immense potential.

Bouaddi had been playing regular senior football since age 16, and Man City decided to pounce after he put in some encouraging displays in the 2026 World Cup.

3. Jack Grealish – €117.5m (from Aston Villa, 2021)

Jack Grealish overtook Kevin De Bruyne as Manchester City’s most expensive transfer of all time in the summer of 2021, and his record would stand for five years.

His €117.5m move from Aston Villa made him the most expensive English and British transfer in history at the time of his departure from Villa Park.

Grealish had established himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting and creative players at Aston Villa, but his first season at Man City didn’t go to plan.

He resurrected his Man City career during the 2022-23 campaign and played a major role in their aforementioned treble, but eventually saw his influence wane again, and he was sent on loan to Everton for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

2. Elliot Anderson – €135m (from Nottingham Forest, 2026)

Elliot Anderson became the most sought-after midfielder in the Premier League in 2026 after starring in a poor Nottingham Forest side. Despite interest from Man Utd, it became clear quite early on that he was destined for their local rivals.

That’s exactly how things turned out, with Man City shattering their club record to sign the England star in an eye-watering €135 million deal after some tough negotiations with Forest.

Anderson has enjoyed a strong start to life at Man City.

1. Enzo Fernandez – €145m (from Chelsea, 2026)

The crown jewel of Man City’s incredible 2026 midfield rebuild was Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, who became the first player in the history of football to complete two transfers for more than €100m, having previously joined the Blues for €121m.

After a months-long saga, which initially started with Fernandez flirting with Real Madrid, the Argentine reunited with his former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca at the Etihad.

The two clubs agreed a Premier League record-equalling €145m deal on Deadline Day, with Fernandez completing his move shortly before the window shut.

With the signings of Anderson and Fernandez, Man City obliterated their club record twice in a matter of weeks.

The 10 most expensive Man City signings of all time

Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.

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