Since being acquired by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family in 2008, Manchester City have been one of the biggest spending sides in Europe.
City have used their vast resources wisely to win eight Premier League titles, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and several domestic cups.
We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive signings in City’s history and how those players subsequently fared after completing the move.
Note: we’ve only used the initial transfer fees and haven’t taken into account any potential add-ons.
10. Kevin De Bruyne – £55m
Year: 2015
From: Wolfsburg
A few eyebrows were raised in the summer of 2015 when City shelled out £55million on De Bruyne, who had previously failed to make an impact at Chelsea.
He silenced those doubters and developed into one of the best midfielders in the world, helping City win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, two Community Shields and the Champions League.
The Belgium international has also picked up a host of individual accolades, including the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
“He is [an] absolute legend,” Pep Guardiola said. “He will be remembered forever one of the greatest, greatest, greatest players of all-time for this club.”
9. Jeremy Doku – £55.5m
Year: 2023
From: Rennes
Having been close to signing for Liverpool as a teenager, even holding talks with Jurgen Klopp, Doku ended up at City instead in August 2023, having established himself at Anderlecht and then Rennes.
City paid around £55.5m to secure Doku’s services, but he only scored three Premier League goals during his debut season and the same number in his second.
The winger, who was 21 at the time of his arrival, was the joint-third best assist provider in the league in 2023-24, though, setting up 10 goals.
8. Aymeric Laporte – £57.2m
Year: 2018
From: Athletic Bilbao
After initially rejecting City to stay at Athletic Bilbao in the summer of 2016, Laporte changed his mind 18 months later and moved to the Etihad in a £57.2million deal.
The Spanish centre-back made a seamless transition to English football and was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2018/19.
Having picked up 254 points from a possible 300, he also holds the record for most points collected after 100 Premier League matches.
But the 29-year-old fell out of favour in 2022/23 and was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo of Man City
Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo celebrate Man City goal
7. Omar Marmoush – £59m
Year: 2025
From: Eintracht Frankfurt
City underwent a revolutionary January 2025 transfer window after an uncharacteristically lacklustre spell of form in the Premier League.
The biggest of their four first-team winter signings was Marmoush, who cost £59m to take from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Egypt forward had scored 20 goals from 26 games in the first half of the season for Frankfurt and went on to add eight from 22 from his first few months as a City player, prior to their Club World Cup campaign commencing.
6= Riyad Mahrez – £60m
Year: 2018
From: Leicester City
While Leicester City originally put a £95million price tag on Mahrez, they ultimately accepted City’s offer of £60million in the summer of 2018.
The winger had an underwhelming debut season at the Etihad and played a bit-part role as City won the domestic treble in 2018/19.
He eventually rediscovered his Leicester form and justified that price tag by registering 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 appearances in all competitions.
City then recouped half of the £60million transfer fee by selling the Algeria international to Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in 2023.
6= Joao Cancelo – £60m
Year: 2019
From: Juventus
Cancelo joined City from Juventus in a £60million deal in 2019 and Danilo moved in the opposite direction for a fee of £34.1million.
After making a slow start to life at the Etihad, he turned things around and was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2020/21 and 2021/22.
But the Portugal international then fell out with Guardiola and spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Bayern decided not to trigger the £62million buy option, so he spent 2023/24 with Barcelona before being sold to Al Hilal.
Come for the goal, stay for the Joao Cancelo assist 🤤#GoalOfTheDay x @ManCity pic.twitter.com/D09VHC9raG
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 23, 2022
4. Ruben Dias – £62m
Year: 2020
From: Benfica
After missing out on the Premier League title in 2019/20, City bolstered their defensive options by signing Dias from Benfica in a deal worth an initial £62million and another £3million in add-ons.
The centre-back made an immediate impact and was named the Premier League’s Player of the Year and UEFA’s Defender of the Year in 2020/21.
His performances also helped City win four successive Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Community Shield, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.
“He is the type of player similar to Vinny [Kompany], where it is not about how he plays himself,” Guardiola said in 2023. “Ruben is not just playing his game, he is playing the game for everyone. He has the ability to see and solve problems for many, many things. His character is so important.”
3. Rodri – £62.8m
Year: 2019
From: Atletico Madrid
City identified Rodri as a long-term successor to Fernandinho and triggered the £62.8million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract in 2019.
He initially struggled to adapt to Premier League football but has since established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, becoming the Ballon d’Or winner in 2024 after also winning the Euros with Spain.
Rodri has also chipped in with some valuable goals, including the winner against Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final.
🗣️ "I've watched the goal 5,000 times."
Rodri's stunning match-winning strike ⚽️#SuperCup 🔜 pic.twitter.com/qCE8zYKdmv
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 15, 2023
2. Josko Gvardiol – £77.5m
Year: 2023
From: RB Leipzig
City spent £77.5million to sign Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in 2023, making him the second most expensive defender of all time.
“First of all, he’s a central defender left, that’s not easy,” Guardiola told ITV Sport. “His physical condition is really, really good and his build-up with his left foot is also really, really good.
“He is 21 years old so when you buy, of course, it’s a lot of money, but when you are 21 years old, it is not a problem. He will be with us for the future and that’s what we think.”
The Croatia international quickly got his hands on some silverware after making his City debut in the UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla, the first of more than 40 appearances in his debut season.
1. Jack Grealish – £100m
Year: 2021
From: Aston Villa
City became the first English side to spend £100million on a single player when they bought Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021.
The 27-year-old initially found it hard to adapt to life under Guardiola and was the subject of sustained criticism in 2021/22.
He silenced those critics and rediscovered his best form in 2022/23, making 50 appearances in all competitions as City won the treble, but he has declined again since.
Yet the England international has managed to cement his status as a national treasure.
READ MORE: The 10 Man City players sold for the biggest transfer profits in the Pep Guardiola era