Manchester City's 10 most expensive signings of all time – list

In the world of football, few clubs have transformed their fortunes through the transfer market as dramatically as Manchester City.

Since being taken over by billionaire Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, the Sky Blues have invested over £2.2 billion in building some of the most formidable squads in football history.

City’s transfer strategy has often centred around high-profile signings like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez – players who bring immediate star power and impact. However, the club has also shown a keen eye for developing young talents with immense potential.

Academy graduate Phil Foden is a shining example of homegrown success, while signings like Ruben Dias and Julian Alvarez have demonstrated City’s ability to blend big spending with smart scouting and development.

This January has seen City flex their financial muscle once more, with three big-money recruits – including Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush – arriving to salvage what they can from a below-par campaign to this point.

Here, we rank Manchester City’s 20 most expensive transfers, with a detailed look at the top 10 players who have helped define an era of unprecedented success.

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Here’s a detailed look at Manchester City’s 10 most expensive signings…

10

Kevin De Bruyne

£55m from Wolfsburg, 2015

Though his Manchester City career seems to be in its final stages, Kevin De Bruyne has been worth every single penny of the £55m paid by the Citizens to Wolfsburg in 2015.

The Premier League’s greatest-ever midfielder and City’s greatest-ever player, the brilliant Belgian and his wand-like right foot has fired the club to heights they once never would have imagined. From countless assists to clutch goals, De Bruyne has been the beating heart of a team that has dominated English football and finally conquered Europe with their historic Champions League triumph.

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9

Jeremy Doku

£55.4m from Rennes, 2023

Jeremy Doku’s time at the Etihad is still in its infancy, but generally speaking, it’s been so far, so good for the young winger.

The Belgium international is a joy to watch, dribbling in and out of players for fun and generally causing a nightmare for the opposition with his electric pace and flicks and tricks. His end product has also improved massively since moving from Rennes to Manchester for £55.4m in 2023.

There’s plenty more to come from Doku, and City fans will be eager to see how he continues to develop.

8

Aymeric Laporte

£57m, from Athletic Club, 2018

Aymeric Laporte spent five and a half seasons at Manchester City following his £57m move from Athletic Club in 2018, which was then a club-record fee.

During that time, he helped the club win five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League, consistently impressing with his commanding performances at the heart of Pep Guardiola’s defence.

City allowed him to join Saudi club Al-Nassr in 2023 for a relatively modest £23.6m – a decision they may now regret given their ongoing struggles with injuries and quality in defence.

7

Riyad Mahrez

£60m from Leicester City, 2018

Riyad Mahrez doesn’t always get the credit he deserves in discussions about Manchester City greats, but there’s no doubt he’s earned his place among them.

Mahrez joined for £60m from Leicester City in 2018 having dazzled for the Foxes amid their iconic title success, and finally got his big-club move two years later as Pep Guardiola came calling.

With technical quality to rival the best to play the game and a first touch that made even Zinedine Zidane look like a Sunday League player, Mahrez was a true magician on the ball.

His dribbling, vision and ability to score crucial goals consistently set him apart, particularly in City’s most significant moments. Mahrez may not have always been the headline act, but his influence and brilliance on the pitch were key to City’s success during his time at the club.

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6

Joao Cancelo

£60m from Juventus, 2019

Joining from Juventus for a hefty £60m, Joao Cancelo’s first season at Manchester City threatened to be a costly mistake, with the Portuguese full-back struggling for form and finding it difficult to adapt to the demands of the Premier League as a traditional wide defender.

However, Pep Guardiola’s decision to transform him into an inverted full-back proved to be a masterstroke. In his second season, Cancelo flourished, becoming one of the best players in the division, showcasing his versatility and technical brilliance.

But the rise was short-lived. Just 18 months later, Cancelo left Manchester City amid a fallout, later labelling the club “ungrateful”.

5

Rodri

£62.8m from Atletico Madrid, 2019

Rodri’s importance to Manchester City has never been more apparent, with the £62.8m acquisition from Atletico Madrid sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Without their beating heart in the middle of the park, City have looked disjointed, with their rhythm and control over matches noticeably disrupted. They’ve also been lacking a goal threat from midfield – something Rodri has added to his already exceptional game in recent years.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is not just a defensive powerhouse; his leadership, passing range, and ability to pop up with crucial goals have made him one of the most complete midfielders in world football.

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4

Omar Marmoush

£63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025

Omar Marmoush sealed a sensational £63m move to the Etihad in January after a stellar first half of the season in the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists in just 17 games.

Pacey, versatile and unpredictable, the Egyptian forward’s debut for City against Chelsea was a promising sign of things to come.

Even Haaland, a man known for his one-man wrecking-ball performances up top, says he can’t wait to play with him more often.

“There’s a reason City brought him because he has something special,” Haaland said after Marmoush’s debut. “He’s going to be a fantastic player for us.”

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3

Ruben Dias

£65m from Benfica, 2020

No doubt one of the world’s best central defenders, Ruben Dias has proven to be a shrewd acquisition for City since his £65m move from Benfica in 2020.

The Portuguese stalwart has brought a level of consistency and discipline to Guardiola’s backline that was previously lacking, leading by example and commanding the defence with both composure and tactical nous.

“Ruben is not playing just his game. He is playing the game for everyone,” Guardiola said of Dias in 2023. “He has the ability to see and solve the problems for many things. His character is so important. His leadership is huge.”

2

Josko Gvardiol

£77m from RB Leipzig, 2023

Though usuallly played as a left-back by Guardiola, Josko Gvardiol is so good, he could truly play anywhere on the pitch.

A commanding defender, he is solid in the tackle, dominant in the air and reads the game with an impressive maturity for his age. However, what sets him apart is his ability to contribute offensively. Not only is he a terrific ball-carrier and dribbler, but he also possesses a keen eye for a pass, often creating opportunities in the final third.

Gvardiol has a knack for scoring, too. He’s already reached double figures in goals for the Sky Blues since his 2023 move from RB Leipzig, which cost the Citizens £77m.

It’s clear that City’s investment in him has paid off, with the 23-year-old rapidly becoming one of the most complete defenders in world football.

1

Jack Grealish

£100m from Aston Villa, 2021

Manchester City’s record signing by some margin, Jack Grealish has won almost everything there is to win since his 2021 move from Aston Villa, including three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions League.

However, his filled trophy cabinet shouldn’t detract from the fact that he looks a shadow of the player he once was at Villa Park.

At Villa, the Englishman was enigmatic, exciting and sometimes controversial – a combination that made him a pleasure to watch and an unpredictable handful for opposition teams.

But since his then-British-record £100m move to City, his sense of individualism seems to have been coached out of him by Guardiola. Instead of taking his man on, he’ll cut back and play the simple pass. Instead of shooting on goal from distance, he’ll lay it off to a teammate.

While this isn’t always a bad thing, it’s sad to see one of the Premier League’s true modern mavericks turn into just another cog in football’s most efficient machine.

With his playing time at the Etihad now dwindling, he could soon be given the chance to showcase his individual brilliance once again for a new club.

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