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Cherki A, Trafford D: Rating every Man City signing this season

Updated: 26 May 2026 16:04 BST | 7 min read

Man City Rayan Cherki James Trafford

And so after a 60-game season which brought the farewell of Pep Guardiola and success in two cup competitions, an emotional 2025-26 campaign has come to an end for Manchester City.

City said goodbye to their legendary boss following a trophy-laden decade at the club, with the Spaniard bowing out as a winner following the Carabao Cup and FA Cup victories this season.

Underpinning those two cup triumphs was City’s excellent transfer business in 2025-26, with Guardiola ensuring his successor has a squad which is capable of delivering further silverware in his stead.

With that in mind, FootballTransfers has now decided to take a look at every signing made by Guardiola in his final season as City manager, delivering each player a verdict between A-F.

Antoine Semenyo - A (€72m/£64m from Bournemouth)

Hoping to inject momentum into City’s season at the halfway stage, the club beat all of their main rivals to the signing of Antoine Semenyo in January.

And the 26-year-old picked up from where he left off at Bournemouth, scoring 11 goals in 27 games in all competitions for City including the winner in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.

Following his heroics for City and Bournemouth, Semenyo finished the Premier League season as the third top goalscorer having found the back of the net on 17 occasions.

Antoine Semenyo

Tijjani Reijnders - C (€54.9m/£46.3m from AC Milan)

Looking to fill the voids left by Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne, City signed goalscoring midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan in June 2025.

However, the Netherlands international had a patchy first season in England, scoring on his Premier League debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in August before failing to find the back of the net until December.

While his last goal for City came in February, Reijnders was still a good signing for City, who will hope he can kick on under their next head coach.

Tijjani Reijnders

Rayan Cherki - A (€39.3m/£34m from Lyon)

In one of the best debut seasons in recent memory, Rayan Cherki won hearts and minds not just at City but across the Premier League following his arrival from Lyon.

A campaign largely devoid of individual brilliance amid the return of long throws and reliance on corners, the 22-year-old’s two-footed unpredictability in and around the box was a joy to behold.

France international Cherki scored 10 goals and registered 15 assists in all competitions for City - an astonishing return considering he had previously never graced these shores.

Rayan Cherki

Rayan Ait-Nouri - C (€36.8m/£31.8m from Wolves)

After years of deploying centre-backs and, in the cases of Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko, midfielders at left-back, it was exciting to see City sign a traditional player for that role in the shape of Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The 24-year-old endured a difficult first season with City, however, with injuries restricting him to just 16 Premier League appearances.

Taking into account those injury struggles, and the fact that City captured a player with good experience for a relatively low price in today’s market, it would be harsh to consider Ait-Nouri's signing a failure for the time being.

Rayan Ait-Nouri

James Trafford - D (€31.2m/£27m from Burnley)

From City’s point of view, James Trafford could be considered a fantastic signing considering he played a key role in them winning two trophies as their designated goalkeeper for cup competitions.

However, from Trafford’s perspective, he was never supposed to occupy that position, having started the season as City's first choice shot-stopper until Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival towards the end of last summer’s transfer window.

It must be said that while Trafford is clearly a talented keeper, having played a massive part in Burnley winning promotion in 2024-25, becoming City's No. 1 always looked too good to be true, and he would have been better served joining Newcastle United instead.

James Trafford

Gianluigi Donnarumma - A (€30.1m/£26m from Paris Saint-Germain)

Despite having signed Trafford on the condition that he would replace Ederson as City’s new No. 1 goalkeeper, the club simply had to pounce when Gianluigi Donnarumma was made available by Paris Saint-Germain.

Already one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, the Italy international took to the Premier League like a duck to water, keeping the second most clean sheets (15) behind Arsenal’s David Raya (19).

While Semenyo and Cherki were quick to develop highlight reels at one end, Donnarumma made several impressive saves at the other, including world-class saves in the wins over Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium last September and Liverpool at Anfield in February.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Marc Guehi - B (€23.1m/£20m from Crystal Palace)

Not content with signing one brilliant player in January, City completed a dream double swoop when landing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

And the England international cemented his status as one of the best centre-backs around by having a huge hand in City pushing Arsenal all the way in the Premier League title race.

The only blip came in the dramatic 3-3 draw at Everton earlier this month, as a costly backpass from Guehi allowed Thierno Barry to score in a game which saw City hand over the title initiative to eventual champions Arsenal.

Marc Guehi

Sverre Nypan - B (€14.4m/£12.5m from Rosenborg)

Regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe, City immediately loaned Sverre Nypan to Middlesbrough following his arrival in July 2025.

The 19-year-old went on to make 21 appearances in all competitions as Boro - following the dramatic Spygate scandal involving Southampton - eventually reached the Championship playoff final, losing 1-0 to Hull City.

While it remains to be seen where Nypan’s immediate future lies as City look to appoint Guardiola’s successor, the midfielder’s natural talent and low cost means his signing can be considered a smart one by the club.

Sverre Nypan

Marcus Bettinelli - N/A (€2.4m/£2m from Chelsea)

A signing which not only boosted City’s goalkeeping ranks but, perhaps more importantly their homegrown quota, Marcus Bettinelli arrived as a back-up goalkeeper in June 2025.

And while the Englishman did not make a single appearance for City in 2025-26, the fact that he signed a new one-year contract extension in April proves he has been a good addition to the dressing room.

Marcus Bettinelli