international_1 EN

Exclusive offer

DraftKings

Bonus up to  $300

New customers only | Commercial content | 18+ age limit | T&Cs apply

DraftKings Exclusive offer : Bonus $300

I want it

Club World Cup: Will Manchester City's new signings make the difference?

by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard

image Club World Cup: Will Manchester City's new signings make the difference?
After concluding the 2024-25 season without a single trophy in sight, Manchester City have taken major steps forward in regaining their dominance both in the Premier League and in Europe. In an effort to rebuild for the upcoming 2025-26 season, City have made three high-profile signings to challenge for silverware. Let's find out in the article below who these new additions are!

For the first time in eight years, Manchester City concluded the 2024-25 season trophyless. It was a very trying period for Pep Guardiola and company, who were not only stripped of their English Premier League crown by Liverpool but suffered a rare defeat against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final in what was their only chance to end the campaign with silverware. 

The Citizens are back seeking redemption that could see them regain their dominance. They are one of 32 teams in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, participating in this competition and are eyeing their second trophy to set the tone ahead of the 2025-26 season, as we talk about in our Manchester City vs WAC Casablanca prediction. In their first appearance in this competition in 2023, they secured their maiden trophy.

Head coach Pep Guardiola came prepared this time, having been active in the transfer market to bolster his squad with new signings. The question remains: Can his new high-profile signings make a difference and put them on top of the ladder on the international stage?

Guardiola's New Signings: Who are they?

pep analysing match

Head coach Pep Guardiola is trying to restore his team, Manchester City, as a dominant force in English football and Europe after a disappointing 2024-25 season. 

With notable players departing the club soon, especially the news of Kevin de Bruyne, who has been an influential player for Manchester City since joining in 2015, Guardiola had no choice but to find replacements, and that meant digging around for gold in the rough in the transfer market. The outcome was four new additions, with three being considered high-profile signings.

Before we uncover the new signings, let's see who has left the club below:

  • Kevin de Bruyne
  • Kyle Walker
  • Jack Grealish
  • Joao Cancelo
  • Julian Alvarez 
  • Kalvin Phillips 
  • Scott Carson
  • Yan Couto 
  • Josh Wilson-Esbrand
  • Issa Kabore
  • Tai Sodje
  • Jacob Wright

New additions and their contracts:

Tijjani Reijnders (Midfielder)

  • Previous club: AC Milan
  • Fee: £46.5m (€55m)
  • Contract: 5 years

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Left-back)

  • Previous club: Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • Fee: £31m (€37m)
  • Contract: 5 years

Rayan Cherki (Attacking midfielder)

  • Previous club: Lyon
  • Fee: £30.5m (€36.5m)
  • Contract: 5 years

Marcus Bettinelli (Goalkeeper)

  • Previous club: Chelsea
  • Fee: Undisclosed
  • Contract: 1 year

Can the new signings make an impact?

The answer to that question is yes, Pep Guardiola's new signings could make an impact, but not an immediate one. There are factors to consider as they still need to adapt to Guardiola's style of play and the new environment, and let's not forget about chemistry.  

However, down the line, they'll need to step up if they are to be regular starters, but for now, they are bound to make mistakes here and there.

  1. Tijjani Reijnders is a box-to-box midfielder and is expected to be the new Kevin de Bruyne and Ikay Gundogan combined. He could turn out to be a goal threat when taking into account his stats with AC Milan in the 2024-25 season.

Serie A stats with AC Milan (2024-25):

  • Appearances: 37
  • Goals scored: 10
  • Assists: 4
  • Pass completion rate: 89.59%
  • Key passes: 36
  • Shot accuracy: 65.71%
  • Shots per goal scored: 4.38
  1. Rayan Ait-Nouri is an attacking left-back and was impressive during his time with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2024-25 season. Four goals and seven assists mean that he was directly involved in 11 goal involvements for his team and can be a key asset. It's going to be a two-man fight between him and left-back Josko Gvardiol. The 24-year-old is also comfortable playing as a left wing-back, offering more attacking width. 

English Premier League stats with Wolverhampton Wanderers (2024-25):

  • Appearances: 37
  • Goals scored: 4
  • Assists: 7
  • Expected assists: 8.02
  • Tackles: 84
  • Interceptions: 23
  • Ground duels: 398
  • Ground duels won: 216
  • Aerial duels won: 21
  • Clearances: 64
  1. Rayan Cherki is an attacking midfielder, and the competition between him, Phil Foden, and Savinho is expected to be very tight at the Etihad Stadium in the upcoming 2025-26 Premier League season. He is expected to make his debut with Manchester City this Wednesday in the FIFA Club World Cup. 

Ligue 1 stats with Lyon (2024-25):

  • Appearances: 30
  • Goals scored: 8
  • Assists: 11
  • Expected assists (xA): 18.3
  • Big chances created: 22
  • Shot creating actions: 146
  • Passes into penalty area: 77.

Please Gamble Responsibly

logo footer