Three new faces are expected to have a big role at Manchester City this summer.
Following a disappointing 24/25 campaign, Pep Guardiola saw Tijjani Reijnders added to his squad last month, with the Dutch star following the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Marcus Bettinelli.
The Manchester club might not be done yet, as a right-back is high on Man City’s list of priorities, having already addressed their issue at left-back by signing Ait-Nouri from Wolves.
The Algerian star is expected to have a big impact at the Etihad Stadium over the next 12 months, and former Man City star, Nedum Onuoha, has now shared what he thinks the defender will bring to Guardiola’s team.
Rayan Ait-Nouri looking on during Manchester City's match against Juventus
Photo by Richard Sellers/Allstar/Getty Images
Rayan Ait-Nouri will bring goal contributions to Man City
Man City fans have already seen their new left-back in action during the FIFA Club World Cup, and Ait-Nouri’s displays left Shay Given impressed with what the 24-year-old brought to the Manchester club.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Onuoha is also excited about the arrival of the full-back and has stated that he expects the former Wolves star to bring lots of goal contributions to City throughout the 25/26 season.
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“No, I’m not too concerned about the right-back, to be honest,” Onuoha started by saying when speaking about Man City’s new signings.
“But for the brief outing that they had at the Club World Cup, I did like the look of Reijnders. I did like the look of Cherki, and I think some of the link-ups that they had look really good.
“And I think as a consequence, that sort of midfield three, or wherever it’s going to be, can be quite different on a week-to-week basis, but have real good quality.
“I think some of the chance creation is going to be up this year, so I’m quite happy with those two signings.
“And for Ait-Nouri, we’ve seen him do it for Wolves, obviously doing it for Man City is different, but he’s a really good comfortable attacking option on that side, so I get the feeling he’s going to be having lots of goal contributions this year as well.”
Ait-Nouri will replace Josko Gvardiol at left-back in Guardiola’s team for the upcoming season, as the centre-back was deployed in that role for the majority of the 24/25 campaign, and it is fair to say that the Algerian is the more exciting attacking talent out of the two.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s goal contributions across recent seasons
In the 2024/25 Premier League season, Ait-Nouri led all defenders with a combined total of 11 goals and assists, beating Fulham’s Antonee Robinson by just one goal contribution.
The Algerian star ended his time at Wolves by producing four goals and seven assists in the English top flight, which is one of the main reasons Man City have signed the 24-year-old, given that they struggled to break down teams at times last season.
Season Games Goals Assists
24/25 44 5 8
23/24 38 3 4
22/23 27 2 1
21/22 27 1 6
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s goal contributions in all competitions
Ait-Nouri’s numbers have got better with every passing season, and joining one of the best clubs in the Premier League, with some of the best attacking players in the world, the left-back could break his personal best again over the next 12 months.
Guardiola will need a defensive plan for the 24-year-old’s attacking style of play, but one thing the legendary coach should not try and do is restrict the full-back’s attacking nature.