Manchester City fans have been very excited by the arrival of Rayan Cherki.
Man City acquired Cherki as part of a £34m deal with Lyon ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, with the French star being viewed as Kevin De Bruyne’s replacement after Florian Wirtz rejected Pep Guardiola in favour of a move to Liverpool.
City supporters have already got a glimpse of the midfielder over recent weeks in the United States, where the 21-year-old featured in all four of the Manchester club’s matches, scoring one goal and assisting another.
It will be interesting to see what Cherki can do once the 2025/26 campaign gets underway in August, and the French star has admitted that he is very excited about playing with one star in particular over the coming months.
Rayan Cherki running during Manchester City's match against Al-Hilal
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Rayan Cherki is confident he can bring the best out of Erling Haaland
Last season was Erling Haaland’s worst at Man City since his £51m arrival from Borussia Dortmund during the summer of 2022, as the Norwegian star struggled for form and fitness.
Haaland looked like his old self throughout the FIFA Club World Cup as the 24-year-old scored in City’s last three games, netting the first equaliser in the 4-3 defeat to Al-Hilal.
More Man City News
Gary Lineker has admitted that he is excited to see how Haaland’s partnership with Cherki develops, with the French star telling the Official Manchester City Magazine that he believes he can bring the best out of the superstar throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
“Of course!” Cherki said while smiling when asked if he is excited to play with Haaland. “We know that when I’m in the zone, I don’t hold back.
“So, I’m excited to help him score even more goals because I’m confident he’ll score plenty when I deliver the passes. I am also impatient to play a game in the Etihad in front of our fans with my team-mates. I am ready.”
Erling Haaland in action for Manchester City v Wydad at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Erling Haaland’s Man City career so far
Haaland has been a major hit throughout his three seasons at Man City, with the Norwegian star winning everything except the League Cup with the Manchester club.
The main reason for this is the 24-year-old’s goals with the superstar’s strike against Al-Hilal increasing his tally at Man City to 124 goals and 21 assists across 146 appearances.
Season Games Goals Assists
24/25 48 34 5
23/24 45 38 7
22/23 53 52 9
Erling Haaland’s Man City career
Haaland will have the bit between his teeth after what happened last season, as the Norwegian star will need to step up if Man City are to win back the Premier League from Liverpool.
Cherki will certainly have a key role to play in the season Haaland will have, as the French star has already shown in recent weeks that he can create magic on a football field.