Manchester City‘s Rayan Cherki has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder is a product of Lyon’s youth system and spent six years with their first team.
During his time with the Ligue 1 side, the Manchester City star managed 29 goals and 46 assists from 189 matches.
His performances convinced the Citizens to invest around €36.5m in June 2025 and the decision has gone well so far.
Last November, Sport Witness covered claims from France that Paris Saint-Germain failed to sign him in the past.
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City would be happy that the 22-year-old is at the Etihad now. He scored nine goals and contributed 13 assists from 43 matches so far this season.
His Premier League stats are as follows:
Appearances: 26
Starts: 15
Total minutes: 1,392
Minutes per game: 54
Goals: 3
Assists: 10
Not a typical Guardiola player
Rayan Cherki played alongside Nicolás Tagliafico in his last three years at Lyon.
The left-back has given an interview to SashaJRR and Bolvaip have relayed his comments on the Manchester City man. The 33-year-old Argentine is in full praise of his former teammate.
“He has so much quality. I don’t know if there are players like him these days. Wingers today are more dangerous in one-on-one situations, with speed, but he’s very skilful with both feet, he likes to dribble all over the place, but he’s disorganised,” he said.
When analysing the attacker’s game further, the fullback admits Cherki isn’t the type of a player that suits Pep Guardiola’s system.
Tagliafico explained: “I don’t know how Guardiola is putting up with him, because he’s more structured.
“It’s all very nice when you’re going forward, you have to attack, and it’s good that he’s disorganised, but you lose the ball and it creates chaos. Despite everything, he’s very good, he’s strong too, he has a lot of talent. And he’s still just a kid, he’s 22.”
Our take: Manchester City star to continue to shine
Rayan Cherki has already impressed in his first season at Manchester City. To put it in context, the Frenchman became the first player since Dimitri Payet [for West Ham United] to register 10 Premier League assists in his debut season.
He still has a long future ahead and is most likely to only get better in the coming years.
Pep Guardiola’s side would be delighted to have a secured a star, that too for a reasonable price in the current market.