Since City last won the Premier League title in May 2024, there has been a turnover of 11 players. Ten players among those serial winners and senior players like Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have left the squad, while another 12 have arrived.
While City's recruitment in January 2025 was rushed and felt a little desperate, their latest transfers have been shrewd.
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were among the best players in the Premier League before they joined City and have made seamless adaptations since arriving. Indeed, Guehi had to sit the final out as he was cup-tied and will have to wait a little longer before winning his first trophy with the club.
Khusanov, the best signing from that flurry of new arrivals in January 2025, is fast becoming an idol for City fans due to his pace and tenacity.
More change is on the horizon as captain Bernardo Silva's contract runs out in June, as does that of John Stones, who joined the same summer as Guardiola in 2026. Stones, who has spent much of the last three campaigns struggling with injury, has effectively already been replaced by Guehi and Khusanov, while Josko Gvardiol's switch back to central defence from left-back further softens the eventual blow.
Filling the void soon to be left by Silva, who has defied his critics by producing astonishing performances in clutch moments this season, will be far harder. But having begun the awkward process of squad renewal himself and making difficult decisions such as moving on Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne, would Guardiola really want someone else to finish the job?