Often an unsung hero for Manchester City, Nathan Ake is currently sidelined and seemingly so for a while to come yet.
Manchester City have had issues at centre-back over the last few weeks and months, with Pep Guardiola having had to deal with number of injury concerns in that positions.
Right now, the City boss is without Manuel Akanji, John Stones, and Nathan Ake, with the likes of Akanji and Stones having been sidelined for a few weeks now.
Ake last played in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup but hasn’t featured in any of the two subsequent matchdays squads with the Dutchman having undergone surgery on a foot fracture, now facing a couple more months on the sidelines yet.
It could be that the £40million, 2020 signing from Bournemouth doesn’t feature again until the 2025/26 season. Even then, he might face an uncertain future with Abdukodir Khusanov in impressive form right now and with Pep likely to overhaul the defence in the summer transfer window.
But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Ake remains a top class player.
Photo by AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Photo by AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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Jordon Ibe impressed by Nathan Ake’s commitment off the pitch
One player who’s now spoken highly of Ake is his former Bournemouth teammate Jordon Ibe. The former Liverpool youngster actually plays well down in the Southern League Premier Division South at Hungerford Town now, marking a huge decline for the player who Bournemouth once paid £15million for.
But speaking in a recent interview with Filthy Fellas, Ibe was discussing his time at Bournemouth and his former teammate Ake, who he had huge amounts of praise for. “I’m so happy for that guy,” Ibe said when asked about Ake and the success he’s since had at the Etihad.
“I spoke to him like last week. I respect this man to a next level. He always used to want to push me, and I respect him. Like, he’s never drank alcohol. Yeah, to this day. Nathan Ake is not on that. He’s just on straight football. That’s it.”
Nathan Ake’s injury record for Manchester City, and when his contract expires
Earlier in the season, Manchester City fans shared their frustration at Ake and his injury record. The 53-cap Dutch international has managed 143 appearances in his nearly five years at Manchester City, and this current injury isn’t his first this season.
It’s already his fifth injury of the campaign now and it’s limited the 30-year-old to just 10 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, with just 18 in all competitions for his club.
He remains under contract until 2027. With a big summer overhaul coming up, Pep might even view Ake as someone ideal for part of the summer sale. Should he leave then he’d certainly leave with the well wishes of fans, with Ake having been a good signing on the whole.