Manchester City have secured a handy sum for the transfer window after Inter met the clauses in the loan deal requiring them to buy Manu Akanji
MILANO, ITALY - DECEMBER 9: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano, Andy Robertson of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 9, 2025 in Milano, Italy. (Photo by Alberto Gandolfo/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Manu Akanji playing for Inter this season against Liverpool
View Image
Manchester City have banked £13m for the summer transfer window with Inter triggering the conditions to buy Manu Akanji. The Swiss defender has spent the year on loan at the San Siro and will now sign a permanent deal with the Italian club.
Akanji signed for City from Dortmund in 2022 for £15m after Pep Guardiola pleaded with the recruitment team to have extra cover with his defence. Akanji went on to be one of the signings of the season and started the Champions League final as City beat Inter to win the Treble.
After also featuring heavily over the next two years, Akanji found himself surplus to requirements at the beginning of this season and a move to Inter was agreed. The conditions for the loan were that a permanent fee of €15m (£13m) would be triggered if Akanji played in at least 50 per cent of Serie A games and the team won the league.
A 2-0 win over Parma clinched the title at the weekend, with Akanji having played in the majority of matches. The 30-year-old is happy with life in Milan with his family and will now get to stay permanently, while the Blues receive nearly as much money for the defender as they paid for him four years ago.
Akanji could be reunited with his former teammates this summer with City facing Inter in their first pre-season friendly on August 1 in Hong Kong. That could depend on how far Switzerland get at the World Cup though, with some of City's first team stars also expected to be allowed rest after the international tournament that may delay or prevent them from joining up with the squad.
John Stones is also leaving City this summer on a free transfer while Nathan Ake could depart as well. The Dutchman has one year left on his contract but has been vocal about the need to play more regularly and could follow Akanji to Italy.