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, Manchester City have invested over £2.5 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 most recently, Gianluigi Donnarumma. 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.
Here, we list 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.
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
Jack Grealish
£100m
Aston Villa
2021
Josko Gvardiol
£77m
RB Leipzig
2023
Ruben Dias
£65m
Benfica
2020
Omar Marmoush
£63m
Frankfurt
2025
Rodri
£62.8m
Atletico Madrid
2019
Joao Cancelo
£60m
Juventus
2019
Riyad Mahrez
£60m
Leicester
2018
Aymeric Laporte
£57m
Athletic Club
2018
Jeremy Doku
£55.4m
Rennes
2023
Kevin De Bruyne
£55m
Wolfsburg
2015
Matheus Nunes
£53m
Wolves
2023
Benjamin Mendy
£52m
Monaco
2017
Erling Haaland
£51.2m
Borussia Dortmund
2022
Nico Gonzalez
£50m
Porto
2025
Kyle Walker
£50m
Tottenham
2017
Raheem Sterling
£49m
Liverpool
2015
John Stones
£47.5m
Everton
2016
Leroy Sane
£46.5m
Schalke
2016
Tijjani Reijnders
£46.5m
AC Milan
2025
Kalvin Phillips
£45m
Leeds
2022
Here's a detailed look at Manchester City's 10 most expensive signings… 10 Kevin De Bruyne £55m from Wolfsburg
Though his Manchester City career is now over, Kevin De Bruyne was 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 fired the club to heights they once never would have imagined. From countless assists to clutch goals, De Bruyne was the beating heart of a team that has dominated English football and finally conquered Europe with their historic Champions League triumph.
9 Jeremy Doku £55.4m from Rennes
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
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
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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ByHenry JacksonDec 20, 2024 6 Joao Cancelo £60m from Juventus
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
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.
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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ByBarney LaneOct 28, 2024 4 Omar Marmoush £63m from Eintracht Frankfurt
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.”
3 Ruben Dias £65m from Benfica
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
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.
1 Jack Grealish £100m from Aston Villa
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.
Costing a then-British-record £100m move to City, Grealish was actually loaned out to Everton for the 2025/26 season.