Top 12 most expensive transfers in Manchester City history

The club are known for splashing huge money on world-class players.

Few clubs can outperform Manchester City in the transfer market. Backed by rich owners, the club have built a strong team thanks to high-profile arrivals in the past decade. Recruiting top players across the globe requires paying huge sums of money to the selling clubs.

This is where the Premier League giants have an edge over their competition. However, one must commend their transfer strategy over the years, buying players that are not only world-class but also fit the style of the club’s gameplay. Unlike neighbours Manchester United, MCFC’s expensive buys usually deliver the goods.

Ahead of the 2022-23 season, the reigning Premier League winners secured the signature of world-class striker Erling Braut Haaland. They paid €60m for the services of the forward. Let us take a look at where the Norwegian stands in terms of record arrivals at the Etihad, including the latest signing, Antoine Semenyo.

Here are the top 12 most expensive Manchester City buys:

12. Erling Haaland – €60m

You expected this to be higher up the list, didn’t you? For the powerhouse striker Erling Haaland, Manchester City paid €60m to Borussia Dortmund. The 22-year-old scored 88 goals and made 22 assists in merely 85 appearances for the German club. Haaland followed in the footsteps of his father, Alfie Haaland, a former Manchester City player. 

11. Rodri – €62.7m

The Spanish midfielder has been the backbone of Manchester City’s recent success. He cost the club €62.7m in transfer fees. The Spaniard made the move to the English outfit from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Since then, Rodri has won four Premier League titles, two English League cups, one UEFA Champions League, and much more. 

10. Raheem Sterling – €63.7m

Raheem Sterling was one of the many purchases by Manchester City when they rose to become world-class and started winning multiple trophies. The English international was only 20 when the club paid €63.7m to Liverpool for him back in 2015. He is now with Chelsea FC.

9. Aymeric Laporte – €65m

Manchester City have spent huge sums of money on reinforcing their defence over the years. One of the high-profile defenders that the club signed was Aymeric Laporte. The centre-back cost the club €65m, who arrived in England from Athletic Club in Spain.

He has won six league titles with MCFC and had made 180 appearances across all competitions. 

8. Joao Cancelo – €65m

Joao Cancelo was a major signing by Manchester City and the full-back showed why the club chose to pay a huge transfer fee for him. The Cityzens shelled out €65m for the defender, making him the second most expensive right-back in the world at the time. After his arrival from Juventus in 2019, Cancelo won a Champions League and three Premier League titles.

7. Riyad Mahrez – €67.8m

Riyad Mahrez was a crucial figure in helping Leicester City win the Premier League title in 2016, all of this against herculean odds. The Algerian international cost MCFC a whopping €67.8m in 2018. However, the huge investment paid off incredibly as Mahrez helped the club win five Premier League titles, three League Cups, and one FA Cup.

Mahrez was one of Pep Guardiola’s go-to options whenever the team needed a goal.  

6. Ruben Dias – €68m

Ruben Dias is the second most expensive defender bought by Manchester City. The English giants paid €68m to SL Benfica for this exceptional centre-back. His arrival in 2020-21 was transformative for MCFC as the defender quickly became an integral part of the team.

Dias is one of the most expensive centre-backs of all time. He has won four Premier League titles with the club already and looks set for more in the years to come.

5. Omar Marmoush – €70m

Following his fruitful time at his previous club, Manchester City broke the bank to sign the Egyptian forward for €70m, making him one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history. However, despite his arrival at the club, Marmoush has yet to explode onto the scene. Hopefully, he will find his form at City.

4. Antoine Semenyo – €71.97m

Antoine Semenyo, a Ghanaian international, joined Manchester City from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million (€71.97m). After City fulfilled Semenyo’s release clause, which needed to be activated by Saturday, the Cherries made a record transaction.

He is going to sport the number 42 shirt that was formerly worn by Yaya Toure, who claimed three Premier League titles during his eight years at the club. He has a contract that runs until 2031.

3. Kevin De Bruyne – €76m

Kevin De Bruyne is the third most expensive purchase in Manchester City. The former Chelsea player was at VfL Wolfsburg when the English outfit paid €76m to bring him back to England in 2015. This signing was central to Pep Guardiola’s plans as he used Bruyne in a number of roles.

Versatile on the ball and across the pitch, the Belgian was regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football. He left after winning several trophies at the Etihad.

2. Josko Gvardiol – €90m

Manchester City signed the most expensive defender in the history of football. Pep Guardiola was eyeing the Croatian centre-back since their last meeting in the Champions League. Having won back-to-back DFB Pokal with RB Leipzig, the defender was already carrying a bit of experience.

He is just 23 and will hopefully have a long future at the club.

1. Jack Grealish – €117.5m

Jack Grealish is the most expensive purchase by Manchester City in its history. He also became the most expensive British player after the club paid €117.5m to Aston Villa for his signature in 2021. He is the seventh-most expensive transfer of all time.

While Grealish did win the Premier League in his first season, he could only score six goals and made four assists in 39 overall appearances. City fans expected a lot more from the English midfielder.

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