Manuel Akanji has signed for Inter Milan on a year-long loan deal.
**Man City**came to the agreement with the Nerazzurri on transfer deadline day, letting go of the defender for £870,000. If Inter win **Serie A**this year, then he will sign for a fee of £13 million.
The BBC have claimed that Akanji attracted interest from **AC Milan**and Crystal Palace, who were on the verge of selling Marc Guehi. But his desire was always to play Champions League football.
This year's **Champions League**finalists lost 2-1 to **Udinese**on the weekend and have been in uncertain times after that 5-0 rout to Paris Saint-Germain,, losing Simone Inzaghi to Al-Hilal.
They will hope that the experienced defender brings his strengths from English shores to Italy.
City let go of an astute purchase
Akanji arrived from Borussia Dortmund for £15 million in the summer of 2022. The signing of a physically talented, but somewhat error-prone player was a cheap gamble that has paid dividends.
As **Pep Guardiola**veered towards a back four with a quartet of central defenders, Akanji was an integral part of the plans as a more solid fullback. He played 48 times for the Citizens in his debut campaign, earning more minutes than any other defender in the squad on the way to the treble.
He contributed 48 more appearances in the 2023/24 season as City won a historic fourth Premier League title in a row. Even in an injury-riddled year for the side, he played 40 times last campaign.
The Swiss stayed on the books during the summer as the Citizens went to the USA and played in the Club World Cup. He did not make up the numbers for the squad in the tournament, starting against **Al Ain**and **Juventus**before coming off the bench in the exit to **Al-Hilal**in the Round of 16.
He now departs a side still struggling to stop transitions without the speed of Abdukodir Khusanov. City have granted Guardiola the right to craft his squad and trust that this choice does not backfire.