As if we needed any more proof, Rayan Cherki’s dazzling cameo on his senior international debut for France showed exactly why Manchester City are so keen to bring him to the Etihad Stadium. We break down the data that underlines his game-changing potential.
With Spain cruising at 5-1 against France in their UEFA Nations League semi-final with under 25 minutes remaining, the match looked destined to end in an embarrassingly one-sided result between UEFA’s top-ranked nations. But the impact of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki – introduced off the bench – shifted the game’s momentum.
Substituted on just after the hour, Cherki made an immediate mark on his international debut. He scored the pick of the goals with a scything volley from the edge of the box that flew past Unai Simón, before cutting inside from the left to deliver a wicked inswinging cross that Randal Kolo Muani headed home to make it 5-4, following Dani Vivian’s earlier own goal.
In doing so, Cherki became just the third player to both score and assist on his France debut this century, after Marvin Martin (vs Ukraine, 2011) and Louis Saha (vs Belgium, 2004).
Despite playing only 27 minutes, Cherki created three chances, more than any France player apart from Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé (4), both of whom started the match. It wasn’t enough to complete the comeback, but his performance undoubtedly changed the game.
That’s what Cherki does. He makes things happen. It’s why Manchester City – and a host of other top clubs around Europe – are so interested in acquiring his game-breaking talent.
A first cap for his national team was just desserts for Cherki, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign. He was hands down the most creative player in France, and of players from Europe’s top five leagues, only Bruno Fernandes (158) and Raphinha (152) created more chances than him (125) in all competitions. Narrow that down to open play, and only Fernandes (120), Raphinha (105) and Mohamed Salah (104) created more than his 100.
Yet all those players featured in 50 or more matches this season. Cherki, by contrast, played 44. Adjust those chance-creation numbers to a per-90 basis, and Cherki’s impact becomes even more striking: no player across Europe’s top five leagues created more chances per 90 in all competitions than Cherki – both overall (3.7) and from open play (2.9) – among players to play at least 1,600 minutes. That’s how influential he was in 2024-25.
Cherki chances creation open play - 2024-25 all competitions
That creativity resulted in 11 Ligue 1 assists for Lyon in 2024-25, the joint most alongside Gaëtan Perrin of Auxerre, and a further nine in other competitions, including eight in the Europa League (three more than anyone else).
That return was entirely justified as well, with the underlying quality of the opportunities Cherki created throughout the campaign – measured by expected assists – worth 18.3 overall. That was more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions. On a per-90 basis, he again led the way, averaging 0.53 xA.
In simple terms, Cherki was expected to assist a goal every other game. That’s incredible production, particularly for a player in a Lyon side that finished just sixth in Ligue 1.
While he may not play exactly the same role, with City facing the prospect of life without Kevin De Bruyne, they need to find a new source of chances. Cherki might just be that man.
On paper, Cherki operates on the right wing for Lyon in their 4-2-3-1 system, but he’s given freedom to roam into central areas. In the modern game where players are often instructed to remain positionally disciplined, Cherki is a rare maverick, drifting inside to get on the ball as much as possible.
His touch map from the season highlights just how frequently he picks up the ball in pockets of space between the lines, drifting across the pitch to find openings in front of the opposition’s backline.
Rayan Cherki touch zones - all competitions 2024-25
Given his licence to float across the pitch, it’s no surprise that his open-play chance creation map (above) shows lots chances coming from central areas. It’s in those pockets that Cherki thrives, threading passes through tight spaces with precision. He’s a true technician.
As a case in point, 24 of the chances he created in Ligue 1 last season came after a line-breaking pass, almost double anyone else in the division, while he also competed 17 more through balls than any other Lyon player in the league.
Cherki line-breaking passes leading to a chance - Ligue 1 2024-25
But instead of solely relying on his teammates to find him in advanced areas, Cherki is able to get to those parts of the pitch himself. His ability to receive the ball deep and glide past defenders helps him drag Lyon up the pitch. In Ligue 1 this season, he averaged 11.3 progressive carries per 90 minutes – defined as ball carries of five metres or more towards goal. Excluding central defenders, only six players averaged more, and four of them play for PSG.
Cherki’s carries have end product too, with the Frenchman creating 20 chances following a ball carry in 2024-25, the fourth-most of any Ligue 1 player, and six more than any of his teammates.
Rayan Cherki - attacking carries Ligue 1 2024-25
What’s interesting about his game this season is that his pure dribbling numbers – both in terms of dribbles attempted (4.3) and completed (2.1) per 90 – are the lowest they’ve been during his career. They’re still very healthy and are head and shoulders above any other Lyon player. But they’ve been as high as 9.8 (dribbles attempted) and 6.5 (completed) back in 2020-21.
So, taking players on at will is clearly part of Cherki’s skillset – something that would no doubt appeal to someone like Pep Guardiola if he’s looking for a profile similar to Savinho on the right flank, or Jérémy Doku on the left. Perhaps City’s interest in Cherki is an admission that one of those players isn’t seen as City’s long-term, first-choice winger.
Alternatively, it could signal an evolution in Cherki’s game. Less head-down dribbling into dead ends, more head-up play, linking intelligently with teammates in the final third. His most productive season to date has also seen him complete more passes in the opposition’s half per 90 than ever before, while losing possession less frequently than in any of his previous three campaigns. That’s probably not a coincidence.
Perhaps the feather in Cherki’s cap is his ability to do all of these things – pass, carry and dribble – off either foot. This is, admittedly, a fairly crude way to demonstrate that, but of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 this season, exactly half came with his left and half came with his right. Being able to confidently cut inside or go on the outside is a nightmare for defenders.
There have been questions about his attitude off the ball, and that is certainly an area Cherki needs to address. Lyon were a fairly high-pressing team in 2024-25, but Cherki didn’t rank that favourably among his peers. Fellow forwards Georges Mikautadze (32.0), Alexandre Lacazette (28.9) and Malick Fofana (23.0) all averaged more pressures in the final third than Cherki’s 17.7.
Cherki’s possession regains, both overall (3.7) and in the final third (0.6), were also at their lowest since 2020-21. His player radar does not exactly scream defensive workrate:
Rayan Cherki - Ligue 1 radar
City’s wingers Doku and Savinho both boasted better numbers across the board for pressures in the final third per 90 (19.3 and 19.0) as well as regains (4.0 and 3.8), but not by much. We should also mention that Cherki’s modest numbers aren’t to say he cannot press out of possession, rather it’s not something he is currently doing – or indeed being asked to do – in Lyon’s system.
Cherki is still very much a rough diamond, but links to City are particularly exciting when you consider how a player with as much raw talent as him could develop under Guardiola.
While some reports have suggested he has a €22.5 million release clause in his contract, Lyon are instead holding out for a significantly higher fee. Still, even a fee twice that size would feel like a potential bargain for someone as technically gifted the 21-year-old Frenchman.
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