Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves fan George Larkin from Wolves TV believes new Manchester City signing Rayan Ait-Nouri will "take the step up" in Pep Guardiola's team.

In his five seasons with the Old Gold, the 24-year-old scored nine goals and registered 19 assists from left-back - including four goals and seven assists last season.

"Ait-Nouri has given us a lot of good moments over the years," George told BBC Radio Manchester's Total Sport. "He's got stronger and stronger every season and the biggest part of his game to suit City is going forward.

"In terms of stats last season, he provided the most goal contributions of any defender in the Premier League. City defenders spend more time in the opposition final third than defending their own box so he fits that perfectly.

"He goes with best wishes from Wolves fans. It is a good move for him. I think he will take that step up.

"I think he's a top-class player, I would go as far as to say a world-class player. City have got an absolute steal for £31m."

Asked to find a weakness in Ait-Nouri's game, Larkin added: "The argument would be his weakness is the defensive side, but is that going to be a problem at City? Arguably not.

"He's got the likes of [Josko] Gvardiol backing him up and he'll be given license to maraud forward. On the ball, technically, he's second to none honestly.

"Stepping into midfield, picking that little pass, jinking past players, picking the lock against teams that want to sit deep... he's going to be a great player to advance into that space.

"He will vacate that space behind him but I don't see it being a problem at City."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Image source, Manchester City FC

Manchester City have released a special edition kit for this summer's Club World Cup tournament.

The club say, external the shirt puts a "fresh spin on a fan favourite", featuring an unusual white base with hand-painted graphics "inspired by the club's beloved Poznan celebration" and a black-and-red diagonal sash.

A special neon orange goalkeeper kit has also been released, which also features an all-over Poznan graphic and a black and yellow sash.

The team will debut the kit on Monday, 23 June against Dubai side Al Ain in Atlanta, Georgia.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether Manchester City need to act urgently in the transfer market, with the first window closing at 19:00 BST on Tuesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Derek: I'm sure we might do a bit more on the incoming side of things, but I think it will be after the Club World Cup. If either Ederson or Stefan Ortega were to go beforehand, that might force the club's hand a bit more quickly.

Sean: An interesting 12 hours ahead. It would be great to get the players in before the Club World Cup starts and get them used to Pep Guardiola's system. We need to do our business early in the transfer market and not leave it until the end of August to get them in. We also need to offload the players that aren't in Pep Guardiola's plans for the season.

Gerard: We want the three players' deals to be completed before 10 June ends. There is too much delay from the recruitment team at the moment.

Cameron: I think City should keep their younger players, get rid of those that are not needed and not buy any midfielders this season. We definitely need a new goalkeeper.

Today is the first of two transfer deadline days this summer as the window shuts for seven days before reopening on 16 June.

In a change to the summer transfer window norm, it opened early to allow clubs involved in the Fifa Club World Cup 10 days to sign players for inclusion in the competition.

Whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

And keep up to date with all the latest news, views and transfers for your club

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has been awarded an honorary degree by The University of Manchester, in recognition of his contribution to the city on and off the pitch over the past nine years.

He was presented with the award by the University's chancellor, Nazir Afzal, in a ceremony at Whitworth Hall.

The award honours not only his sporting success but also his inspirational work away from football, including through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation.

After arriving in 2016, Guardiola has led the club through the greatest period in their history, including a run of four straight Premier League league titles and a remarkable Treble in 2023.

"Manchester means so much to me. I have spent nine years here and it has become home. The people, the culture, my incredible football club, my colleagues… it is all so special to me and my family," Guardiola said.

"The way this city embraced me made everything easy. My time here has been beautiful.

"I know how important the University of Manchester is to our city. It's the home to a lot of research and it has a history of discovery. So, honestly, to be honoured in this way by such an esteemed institution is an amazing feeling."

Professor Duncan Ivison, president and vice-chancellor of the university said: "Pep is an innovator and a winner who has inspired millions of people through his success as a manager. He has played a huge role in making Manchester a global success story."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Manchester City signing £31m Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves on a five-year contract.

The Algeria international says he is "incredibly happy and honoured" to join Pep Guardiola's side, and plenty of you are echoing his sentiments.

Here are some of your comments:

Brian: This is another positive development at Man City. Ait-Nouri is a left-back with speed, agility and a determination to win. City have been aggressive in the transfer market already and this sends a message to the other teams that City mean business in the forthcoming 2025-26 season. We are bringing quality to the rebuild.

Greg: An excellent signing. We have lacked a specialist left-back and it will free up Josko Gvardiol.

Anthony: With Ait-Nouri coming in at left-back, you would now assume that Gvardiol will be moved across to partner Ruben Dias. I can't see all of John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake staying.

Nick: City under Pep famously and successfully adapt players to play in different roles, however Ait-Nouri is a dream signing. With the left taken care of, Pep can now experiment elsewhere.

Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is being lined up as a potential replacement for 22-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, if he leaves Bayer Leverkusen. (Sun), external

City have agreed a £34m deal with Lyon for 21-year-old France midfielder Rayan Cherki. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Shamoon Hafez and Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporters

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are in talks to sign English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea.

The 33-year-old has been third choice at Stamford Bridge for the past four seasons and City will aim to complete a deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

Earlier on Monday, City announced veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.

Pep Guardiola also completed the signing of Algerian full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves for £31m on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Rayan Ait-Nouri says joining Manchester City is a "dream come true" after his arrival from Wolves for £31m on a five-year deal was confirmed.

The Algeria international joined Wolves on loan in 2020 and permanently in in 2021 for £14.9m from French club Angers. He made 41 appearances in all competitions for the Old Gold last season.

"I am incredibly happy and honoured to have joined Manchester City," said the 24-year-old.

"City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true. I am also excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players.

"Joining City is also a very proud moment for my family too. Now I can't wait to get started and to play in front of our supporters."

Director of Football Hugo Viana added: "Rayan is a player that as a club we have been following closely for quite some time and we are delighted he has joined us.

"He already has extensive Premier League experience and has also demonstrated his quality at international level with Algeria.

"We feel sure that he will be an excellent addition to our squad and that working alongside Pep and his coaching staff will help develop his game even further. And at just 24 he is someone we feel sure will help us in our objective to bring more success to the club."

City fans, what do you make of the signing?

Let us know here.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal forward and Premier League legend Thierry Henry believes Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki can reach the same level as Mesut Ozil.

Cherki is heavily linked with a move to Manchester City, and caught the eye against Spain on his debut for France in the semi-final of the Uefa Nations League last week.

German World Cup winner Ozil was widely praised for his first touch and weight of pass during his time in north London and Henry reckons Cherki's potential is sky high.

"This season, he has managed to raise his level," Henry said. "I would put [Mesut] Ozil in a different category, but with time, Rayan can get close to him."

The 21-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract, but City only have until 19:00 BST to secure a deal if they want him to feature in the Club World Cup.

Cherki has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, with a return of 12 goals in all competitions the best of his short career.

Beyond that, his work and understanding of the game off the ball has arguably improved the most this term, with him providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through balls and 48 successful dribbles, entrenching him as one of French football's best creators.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, expert Julien Laurens said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent was there.

"A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, is just incredible, offering an inswinger every time.

"He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now."

The data backs up assertions about Cherki's ability with both feet. Of his 44 shots in the 2024-25 season, exactly half (22) came with his left and the same with his right.

Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.

"He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."

So, how would he fit in at Manchester City?

Pep Guardiola traditionally prefers his midfielders to keep the ball and be patient rather than play in a direct, transitional style. However, he now has a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill following the Belgian's departure.

Cherki could also be deployed on the right wing, with wide players Jeremy Doku and Savinho struggling for consistency last season, and Jack Grealish open to leaving the club.

It is an exciting time for a player who may, in the space of seven days, go from making his international debut to joining one of the world's best clubs.

Read the full article here

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City goalkeeper Scott Carson will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.

The 39-year-old departs Etihad Stadium after a six-year spell, during which he has been part of a squad that has lifted 12 major honours over the past six seasons.

After joining on loan from Derby County in August 2019, Carson became a key figure in Pep Guardiola's dressing room. The shot-stopper then signed a permanent contract in June 2021 but only went on to make two appearances for the club.

A club statement said: "We would like to thank Scott for his hard work and dedication and wish him the very best of luck for the future."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Rayan Ait-Nouri's transfer from Wolves to Manchester City should be confirmed later today.

The big question is whether Lyon and France midfielder Rayan Cherki joins him.

City are keen on Cherki and clearly can do the deal but they will have to move quickly and on Sunday, sources inside the club were calling reports of the transfer being agreed as 'premature'.

In a sense, tomorrow's deadline is a bit misleading. That is just to be involved in the start of the Club World Cup. There is an opportunity to add to squads in mid-tournament from 27 June to 3 July that would make players available for the knockout rounds.

City could also ignore the Club World Cup altogether and sign Cherki at a later date.

That would appear a bit pointless given the massive financial incentives offered by Fifa for European clubs who go deep into the tournament.

I expect City will push hard to get the transfer concluded.

It is not just at the top of the Premier League where American ownership has a foothold in English football.

Twenty years on from the Glazer takeover of Manchester United, one third of the 72 EFL clubs now have either majority or minority US backers.

In a special episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Kelly Cates is joined by a group of experts to investigate whether this trend is likely to continue.

Listen on BBC Sounds

On Tuesday, the first of two summer transfer windows will come to a close.

So, do you expect business to be done at Manchester City before the deadline? Do you want players to come in or exit? If so, what or who do you think is needed?

Let us know

Everton are interested in England midfielder Jack Grealish, but any move might have to be a loan deal because of the 29-year-old's wages at Manchester City.. (Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what the future holds for Jack Grealish and if you would like to see him remain with Manchester City.

Some supporters believe a transfer would be best for both parties:

Glyn: Good player, never worth £100m. Always too negative, never reached the standards he demonstrated at Villa. He has to move on for the benefit of Manchester City and for his own career.

Charlie: He should leave, he hasn't lived up to his £100m transfer, and honestly, he's shocking sometimes.

Dom: Think it's time for him to go. As many have said, he was great during the Treble season, but over the years, he seems to have lost his spark. Whether that's down to Pep training it out of him to fit into a more regimented system or not, I want to see him flourish again, and I think there are a lot of clubs out there that would love to have a player of his flair and calibre.

Steve: I think Jack is a lovely man, but he's had a long time to prove his worth and hasn't managed to do that yet. Probably time to bring on new talent.

However, other fans want Grealish to stay:

Joe: I genuinely believe there is a place for Jack in the squad, it's up to him to earn it - but he is more than capable and he's shown it at City in the Treble season. But if he wants regular football, it's time to go.

James: He has more to give at City; something has happened for him to be left out and treated the way he has. I don't understand, and I'm sure no one really understands Pep. Feel sorry for him, the way he's been treated after how good he was is unfair.

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

As the 2024-25 season comes to an end, it is expected to be a summer of change at Manchester City. It is also going to be one at BBC Radio Manchester.

After eight seasons with the team, I have decided now is the time to go for a new challenge and that means leaving my role as the station's Manchester City reporter.

For six of those eight seasons I have been lucky to be the voice of the Blues on local radio. I have witnessed four Premier League titles in a row, three final-day dramas, two Manchester derby FA Cup finals and one Treble.

There are too many moments to provide a single standout. Big nights, big games, it really was the best job in local radio.

It started with a one-off opportunity as Manchester City beat West Ham at London Stadium 5-0 in January 2017. It ended with a full-time job and watching Omar Marmoush scoring the club's goal of the season at home to Bournemouth.

The club, the manager and the players have been brilliant to speak to and work with through those years.

City have given me stories some can only ever dream of.

I want to say thank you to the listeners. I tried to call each game fairly, with passion and pride in my work. Win, lose or draw, I hope I made you laugh, cry (but in a good way) and get involved.

Now feels like the right time to explore new broadcasting opportunities and push myself further.

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to We're Not Really Here: A Manchester City podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We want your thoughts on what the future holds for Jack Grealish, with the playmaker set to be left out of Manchester City's squad for the Club World Cup.

The 29-year-old's position at Etihad Stadium is unclear heading into the summer transfer window, amid a growing sense he would benefit from a move before next season.

Grealish joined City in 2021 for a then-British record £100m and was a key part of Pep Guardiola's Treble-winning side in 2022-23.

However, he has struggled for regular playing time over the past two seasons and started just seven league games in 2024-25.

The England international has been responding to critics on Instagram, commenting under one post regarding the situation: "What do you want me to do, score a hatty in 20?"

He replied to another with: "Haha, I've been bad lately? Scored three goals in my last three appearances over 45 mins, but okie dokie, love."

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, one City fan, Joe, said: "It's not just one or two games, he is only starting a game a month. Guardiola brought on Claudio Echeverri for his debut in the FA Cup final over Grealish, so something must have gone on.

"With all due respect to us this season, there haven't really been any standout players in certain positions that Grealish can play. It's not like Foden or De Bruyne have nailed down positions, so I think it shows there is something behind the scenes."

So, what do you think? Should Grealish be sold this summer, or has he got more to give at City? Let us know here

And listen to the full BBC Radio Manchester chat with Man City fans here

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Lee Carsley has named his squad for the U21 European Championship in Slovakia as the Young Lions look to retain their title.

It has been a challenging squad for Carsley to select and he will be without Liam Delap, who was set to be his main striker before his £30m move to Chelsea. The Blues are now taking him to the Club World Cup.

Carlsey also lost Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton to injury but there is a lot of quality in the midfield area with Tottenham's Archie Gray, Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest and Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham all named.

Bellingham's participation had been questioned as he is the subject of interest from Borussia Dortmund, who - like Chelsea - will also participate in the Club World Cup.

Manchester City's James McAtee was a late addition to the squad following the pullouts of Wharton, Dennis Cirkin and Dane Scarlett all with medical issues.

McAtee could have been part of the Manchester City squad at the Club World Cup too, but he is set to play an important role on Carsley's squad for the tournament.

There is no recognised left-back in the squad but Tino Livramento and Samuel Iling-Junior have both played there for Newcastle and Middlesbrough respectvely this season.

Carlsey did not play with a natural left-back for the majority of the tournament in 2023 and that did not stop them lifting the trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

Tijjani Reijnders "is a very special talent" and "the perfect Manchester City player", says Italian football expert Mina Rzouki.

The Netherlands international is set to become City's first signing of the summer as a possible replacement for Kevin de Bruyne.

"He has been an outstanding midfielder this season for AC Milan," said Rzouki on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast. "He has a great talent for spotting spaces.

"He has said he modelled his style around Andres Iniesta as a child but, as he got older, it was Kevin de Bruyne he wanted to resemble on the pitch.

"He has really worked on his football intelligence and how he reads the game, and that is why he knows how to spot spaces and exploit them. His off-the-ball running is really clever.

"I was shocked it was only 55m euros. To me, he is worth a lot more. He is a very special talent and one of the rare, beautiful things to watch from Milan this season.

"He scored in three derbies against Inter and against Real Madrid, so he always shows up in the big matches.

"In terms of his technical ability, he is the perfect Manchester City player.

"My one issue would be that he is not a physical player. He is not going to carry or press the ball, so they would still be dependent on Rodri providing that."

Listen to Euro Leagues on BBC Sounds

And listen to move from Rzouki about Reijnders on BBC Radio Manchester