Manchester City have finished reshaping their squad, with the midfield completely renewed, after spending £458m—a new Premier League record for a single summer transfer window.
However, that staggering figure does not reveal the entire picture.
New head coach Enzo Maresca was fully supported by director of football Hugo Viana during his first transfer window since succeeding Pep Guardiola. City also broke their own transfer record twice over the summer.
Maresca was reunited with former Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez in a joint-British-record £125m deal, following the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. The club also paid £86m for 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi. Together, the three midfielders represented most of City’s summer expenditure.
With captain Bernardo Silva, 2024 Ballon d’Or recipient Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez all leaving, City’s midfield has undergone a total reconstruction.
Senior figures at the club are reportedly pleased with the recruitment completed both this summer and in January, when City accelerated plans to acquire long-term targets Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.
Viewed over a longer period, the renewal of the squad that lifted the 2023 Champions League trophy began in January 2025, following a challenging opening to that campaign.
Only four players from the starting line-up and substitutes involved in the Istanbul victory over Inter Milan are still at the club.
Maresca can now choose between two proven options in nearly every position. City believe their current squad is stronger than it was at the start of last season, crediting a measured approach and continued faith in their recruitment strategy.
Nevertheless, several important issues have yet to be resolved.
What system will allow all of the newly recruited midfielders to play effectively together?
And after such enormous spending, does the squad still lack a reliable alternative to Erling Haaland?
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