The summer transfer window has marked the end of an era at the Etihad Stadium. Following Pep Guardiola's exit after a decade at the helm and the appointment of Enzo Maresca, Manchester City conducted an unprecedented squad clear-out, amassing a hefty £475.2 million in player sales.
BritBall.Net's Andreas Dyumin has crafted an all-star eleven comprised of players who have departed the Manchester giants this summer:
Exiting players eleven (4-3-3 formation):
Goalkeeper: James Trafford (£40 million, transferred to Leeds United).
Defenders: Nathan Ake (£8.5 million, move to Fenerbahce); Calvin Phillips (£45 million, loan to Sheffield United); John Stones (free agent, signed with Inter); Manuel Akanji (permanent transfer to Inter).
Midfielders: Rodri (£65.4 million, sold to Barcelona); Nico Gonzalez (£52 million, sold to Newcastle United); Tijjani Reijnders (£52 million, transfer to Saudi club Al-Qadisiyah).
Forwards: Savio (£85 million, sold to Tottenham Hotspur); Omar Marmoush (transfer to North London / Tottenham Hotspur); Bernardo Silva (free agent, signed with Real Madrid after nine years at the club).
The significance of this grand overhaul
This mass exodus effectively closes the chapter on a golden generation that secured the UEFA Champions League in 2023. The departures of both veterans and fringe players have relieved the wage bill by over £550,000 a week.
The funds generated have already been swiftly reinvested, with the club splurging £234 million on new signings. The standout acquisitions include Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £116 million, and 18-year-old French prodigy Ayub Bouaddi, bought for £81.4 million as a direct replacement for Rodri in midfield. Amid ongoing discussions over Enzo Fernandez, Maresca faces a daunting challenge: integrating this refreshed youthful squad into a winning system in short order, while also maintaining their Premier League standing.
