After ten extraordinary years, six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and twenty trophies — Pep Guardiola departed Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 EPL season. Now, Enzo Maresca, the new manager for Manchester City, begins the 2026-27 season with a three-year contract.
The post-Pep era has begun, and Enzo Maresca is the man chosen to succeed the greatest manager in Manchester City’s history. Maresca comes from a successful tenure at Chelsea, where he won both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.
Maresca is possession-based, tactically disciplined, and tactically flexible. City won the FA Cup and EFL Cup double last season under Guardiola, but finished runners-up to Arsenal in the Premier League. Now Maresca must take this squad — mid-rebuild, without several key pillars — and make it competitive across four fronts simultaneously.
The early signs are emphatic. Manchester City have broken their transfer record by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million — the most expensive English player of all time. The rebuild has begun. And at the Etihad, Erling Haaland is still waiting to deliver the title.
The Guardiola era is over. A new chapter begins at the Etihad. Here is everything you need to know about the Manchester City 2026-27 Squad.
Manchester City’s Final 25-Man Squad for the 2026-27 Season
Under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, Manchester City has finalized its squad for the 2026-27 season. The roster features major additions, including world-class goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and tactical defensive reinforcement Marc Guéhi.
- Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (#1), Marcus Bettinelli (#13), Gerónimo Rulli (#28)
- Defenders: Rúben Dias (#3), Marc Guéhi (#6), Rayan Aït-Nouri (#21), Vitor Reis (#22), Joško Gvardiol (#24), Nico O’Reilly (#33), Abdukodir Khusanov (#45), Rico Lewis (#82), Josh Wilson-Esbrand (#97)
- Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders (#4), Elliot Anderson (#5), Mateo Kovačić (#8), Rayan Cherki (#10), Nico González (#14), Rodri (#16), Matheus Nunes (#27), Claudio Echeverri (#30), Phil Foden (#47), Jack Grealish (#10)
- Forwards: Omar Marmoush (#7), Erling Haaland (#9), Jérémy Doku (#11), Savinho (#26), Jeremy Monga (#40), Antoine Semenyo (#42)
⚠️ Official squad numbers for new signings to be confirmed before Premier League registration deadline. Multiple squad exits still possible — update as confirmed.
Manchester City’s Confirmed New Signings — Summer 2026
Elliot Anderson — CM | Nottingham Forest | £116m ⭐ Club Record Signing
The headline move of the entire summer. Elliot Anderson has joined Manchester City for £116 million — smashing the club’s previous transfer record and making him the most expensive English player in football history, surpassing Jack Grealish’s £100m move in 2021.
The 23-year-old midfielder started every game for England at the 2026 World Cup and completed his medical while on international duty in North America.
Anderson joins Rodri at the base of Maresca’s midfield — a press-resistant, ball-carrying force who covers every inch of the pitch and brings a Champions League-winning mentality to the Etihad.
Jeremy Monga — LW | Leicester City | £12.5m
City beat Arsenal and Manchester United to sign the 17-year-old winger from Leicester’s academy. Monga became the second-youngest player in Premier League history when he debuted for the Foxes and scored once in 30 appearances last season. A long-term investment — he brings electric pace and directness that gives Maresca a wildcard attacking option from the left.
Mathys Detourbet — FW | Troyes | £25m
Another young attacking addition for the future. Detourbet has been immediately sent out on loan to Monaco to continue his development — a clear signal that Maresca sees him as a 2027-28 first-team player, not a 2026-27 starter.
Gerónimo Rulli — GK | Atletico Madrid | £1.7m
Experienced goalkeeping backup arrives to provide competition and cover behind Ederson.
Pierce Charles — GK | Sheffield Wednesday | £3.5m
Additional goalkeeping cover, immediately loaned to QPR for development.
Confirmed New Signings
Manchester City 2026-27 Squad has officially secured five new additions during the summer 2026 transfer window under new manager Enzo Maresca:
| Player | Position | Former Club | Transfer Fee (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elliot Anderson | Central Midfielder | Nottingham Forest | £116 million |
| Mathys Detourbet | Left Winger | Troyes | €25 million |
| Jeremy Monga | Winger | Leicester City | £12.5 million |
| Gerónimo Rulli | Goalkeeper | Marseille | £1.7 million |
| Pierce Charles | Goalkeeper | Sheffield Wednesday | €3 million |
Still to Arrive List
Manchester City is locked in talks to secure up to three more marquee signings before the window slams shut:
- Milos Kerkez: Remains under active consideration from Bournemouth to significantly bolster the left-side defensive positions under Enzo Maresca.
- Ayyoub Bouaddi: The club is in the final advanced stages of securing the Lille midfielder for an estimated £85 million fee, with personal terms already fully agreed.
- Morgan Gibbs-White: Evaluated heavily as an incoming midfield target from Nottingham Forest to strengthen squad depth following the record-breaking arrival of his former teammate Elliot Anderson.
Confirmed New Signings
The club sanctioned five major arrivals to reinforce the squad for the upcoming campaign:
- Elliot Anderson: Central midfielder signed from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £116 million.
- Mathys Detourbet: 19-year-old left winger signed from Troyes for €25 million.
- Jeremy Monga: 17-year-old winger signed from Leicester City for £10 million.
- Gerónimo Rulli: 34-year-old veteran goalkeeper signed from Marseille for £1.7 million.
- Pierce Charles: 20-year-old goalkeeper signed from Sheffield Wednesday for €3.5 million.
Permanent Transfers & Releases
- James Trafford: The 23-year-old goalkeeper completed a club-record move to Leeds United in a deal worth an initial £40 million plus £5 million in add-ons.
- Tijjani Reijnders: Sold permanently to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah for a fee of £52 million after just one season at the Etihad.
- Nathan Aké: Transferred permanently to Turkish club Fenerbahçe for a reported fee of £7 million (€8.5 million).
- Oscar Bobb: Completed a permanent move to Premier League side Fulham for a transfer fee of £27 million.
- Jahmai Simpson-Pusey: The young center-back was sold to German club Köln for a fee of £4.7 million.
- Reigan Heskey: Departed the academy setup permanently to join German side Köln for £2.1 million.
- Bernardo Silva: Left the club on a free transfer to join Real Madrid following the expiration of his contract.
- John Stones: Left the club as a free agent after his contract expired, subsequently signing a two-year deal with Inter Milan.
- Stefan Ortega: Departed the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer to join Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
- Justin Oboavwoduo: Released upon the expiry of his contract and signed with Italian giants Juventus as a free agent.
Season-Long Loans
- Pierce Charles: Loaned to Championship side Queens Park Rangers to gain first-team experience following his permanent arrival.
- Mathys Detourbet: Loaned out to Ligue 1 club AS Monaco straight after his transfer to continue his development.
- Kalvin Phillips: Rejoined Championship outfit Sheffield United on a fresh loan deal for the upcoming season.
- Max Alleyne: The 21-year-old centre-back completed a temporary switch to Championship club Burnley with no buy option included.
Key Players to Watch in Manchester City 2026-27 Squad
Erling Haaland — The Scoring Machine
Erling Haaland is, without question, the most devastating centre-forward in world football — and he remains the cornerstone of Manchester City’s entire attacking system under Maresca. The Norwegian striker holds the Premier League record for most goals in a single season with 36, and has continued to score at a historic rate since arriving at the Etihad.
City built their Guardiola-era dominance around him, and Maresca’s system — built on possession and creative midfield combinations — is designed to create chances for him. In 2026-27, with Elliot Anderson and Phil Foden supplying him with ammunition, expect another 25+ goal campaign.
Rodri — The World Cup Golden Ball Winner
The most important question at Manchester City this summer is whether Rodri stays. The Spanish midfielder won the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball — the tournament’s best player — after captaining Spain to their second World Cup title. He is widely regarded as the best defensive midfielder on the planet and the player who makes City’s entire system function at the highest level.
Without him in 2024-25, City struggled enormously. His contract situation is unresolved — and his presence or absence in 2026-27 will define the ceiling of this team’s ambitions. If he stays, City are title favourites. Update this section when confirmed.
Elliot Anderson — The £116m Record Signing
The most expensive English player in football history arrives from Nottingham Forest having started every game for England at the World Cup. Anderson is a press-resistant, ball-carrying central midfielder who covers every blade of grass — exactly the profile Maresca needed after Bernardo Silva’s departure.
His five-year contract signals City’s long-term commitment to building the post-Guardiola midfield around him. If Maresca deploys him in the box-to-box role he built for Cole Palmer at Chelsea, Anderson’s attacking contribution could be even higher than expected.
Phil Foden — The Academy Genius
Phil Foden’s omission from England’s World Cup squad under Tuchel generated enormous controversy — but he returns to the Etihad focused and motivated. The academy graduate is one of the most technically gifted players in Premier League history, and his combination play in tight spaces with Haaland and Doku is central to how City create and score their goals.
Under Maresca — who, like Guardiola, prizes technical intelligence above physical dominance — Foden could rediscover his very best form.
Jérémy Doku — The Belgian Electric
The Belgian winger is one of the most direct and explosive attackers in the Premier League — a player who combines Mbappé-like pace with the technical confidence to dribble in tight spaces.
Doku gives City a right-wing threat that defences cannot simply sit deep against — his ability to run in behind and carry the ball from his own half to the opposition box in seconds makes him genuinely unplayable on his best days.
Under Maresca’s wider, more structured system, Doku’s freedom could be slightly more controlled than under Guardiola — but his goal and assist numbers should remain elite.
Rúben Dias — The Captain
City’s club captain and the most important defender at the Etihad. Dias has been the bedrock of City’s defensive excellence throughout the Guardiola era — combining physical authority, aerial dominance, and a leadership intensity that sets the tone for the entire defensive unit.
Under Maresca, with a new defensive shape to learn and several new faces around him, Dias’ ability to organise and lead will be even more critical than usual.
Marc Guéhi — The New Defensive Partner
Signed last season, Marc Guéhi partners Dias at centre-back and brings Premier League-proven quality alongside a composure on the ball that suits Maresca’s possession-based approach. The England international’s performances at the World Cup — despite being part of a controversial squad selection — confirmed his standing as one of Europe’s elite centre-backs.
Joško Gvardiol — The Wing-Back Threat
The Croatian left-back has developed into one of City’s most important attacking outlets under Guardiola — and with Nathan Aké’s departure, his role becomes even more central under Maresca. Gvardiol’s combination of defensive solidity and attacking contribution from deep gives City a permanent width option that supports Haaland and the wide forwards effectively.
Manchester City’s Starting XI — Enzo Maresca’s First Choice
Formation: 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 (Maresca’s preferred system from his Chelsea era)
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Defenders: Rico Lewis, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Rayan Aït-Nouri
- Midfielders: Rodri or Elliot Anderson, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden
- Forwards: Savinho, Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku
Key bench options: Matheus Nunes, Kovačić (if staying), Ortega Moreno, Alleyne, Detourbet (on loan)
Maresca’s 4-3-3 at Chelsea was built on dominating possession, pressing high, and creating overloads in the final third. At City, with Haaland as the focal point, the system will be slightly more direct — but the same principles of positional play and quick transitions apply.
Rodri as the pivot, Anderson as the progressive midfielder, and Foden as the creative number eight — if all three are available and fit — gives City arguably the best midfield three in the Premier League.
Manchester City Premier League History — The Guardiola Revolution
Manchester City’s transformation from perennial also-rans into the dominant force in English and European football is one of sport’s greatest modern stories.
City were founded in 1880 and spent most of their history in the shadow of Manchester United. They won the First Division title in 1937 and 1968 — two isolated moments of glory before decades of mediocrity, relegations, and near-bankruptcy.
The Abu Dhabi United Group takeover in 2008 changed everything — providing the financial resources that allowed City to build one of the world’s elite clubs within a generation.
The Early Climb (2008-2012)
Under Roberto Mancini, City won their first FA Cup in 30 years in 2011 before delivering one of the most dramatic title-winning moments in Premier League history in 2012. Sergio Agüero’s stoppage-time goal against QPR — “Agueroooo!” — sealed the Premier League title by goal difference over rivals Manchester United. It was City’s first league title in 44 years and the moment a new era began.
The Guardiola Decade (2016-2026)
Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 transformed City from title challengers into a dominant dynasty. Over ten seasons, he won 20 trophies at the Etihad — a record haul for any manager in a single club tenure in English football.
The highlights include the historic 100-point Premier League season in 2017-18, the domestic Treble in 2018-19, four consecutive Premier League titles from 2020-21 to 2023-24, and the 2022-23 Champions League triumph — completing the Treble in that extraordinary season.
His final season delivered an FA Cup and League Cup double. He left as the greatest manager in Manchester City’s history — and arguably the greatest club manager of his generation.
Full Honours List:
- Premier League: 10 times — 1936-37, 1967-68, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24
- FA Cup: 8 times (including 2025-26)
- League Cup / EFL Cup: 9 times (including 2025-26)
- UEFA Champions League: 1 time (2022-23)
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 time (1970)
- UEFA Super Cup: 1 time (2023)
- FIFA Club World Cup: 1 time (2023)
- Total major honours: 38+
Under Guardiola alone: 20 trophies in 10 seasons — the most decorated managerial tenure at any single English club.
Can Manchester City Win the Premier League and Champions League in 2026-27?
The single biggest challenge at Manchester City in 2026-27 is not tactical — it is psychological. For the first time in a decade, City go into a season without Pep Guardiola. Without the man who defined their identity, their training methods, their recruitment philosophy, and their footballing language.
Enzo Maresca is an excellent appointment — a proven possession coach who delivered the Championship title at Leicester and reached the FA Cup final at Chelsea. But following Guardiola is the hardest job in English football.
Premier League
Arsenal are defending champions and, under Mikel Arteta, have built the most consistently excellent non-City squad of the Premier League era. Manchester United under Carrick are resurgent. Liverpool remain dangerous.
City’s squad — mid-rebuild, with multiple departures and Rodri’s future unresolved — is in transition. A top-four finish and a genuine title challenge is the realistic target. If Rodri stays and Haaland fires at his usual rate, City remain one of the two or three best teams in England. If Rodri goes, the ceiling drops significantly.
Champions League
City have won the Champions League only once — in 2023 under Guardiola. With Maresca at the helm in his debut season, the knockout rounds are the ambition — reaching the quarter-finals or semi-finals would represent a strong first European campaign.
The squad has the individual quality. Whether a new manager, a new system, and several new faces can produce the collective cohesion required to go deep in Europe is the defining question of the entire season.
The Haaland Factor
Ultimately, Manchester City’s season will rise or fall on one number — Erling Haaland’s goals. If he hits 25-30 this season, City will be competing for everything. No other player in world football has a more decisive individual impact on a team’s title chances. For Maresca, keeping Haaland happy, sharp, and clinical is job number one.
The post-Guardiola era begins now. The Etihad holds its breath. City are ready.
Who is Manchester City’s manager for 2026-27?
Who are Manchester City’s confirmed new signings in summer 2026?
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £116m — club record), Jeremy Monga (Leicester City, £12.5m), Mathys Detourbet (Troyes, £21.5m — on loan at Monaco), Gerónimo Rulli (Atletico Madrid, £1.7m), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday, £3m — on loan at QPR).
