€35m market value
©TM/IMAGO
Manchester City have confirmed their first major signing of the summer. The Sky Blues have signed Wolves left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri for a fee in the region of €36m. The 24-year-old Algerian defender has reportedly signed a contract until 2030 and will be available for the group stages of the Club World Cup, which starts this weekend. City begin the newly-revamped tournament against Moroccan club Wydad on June 18. Algeria international Ait-Nouri joined Wolves for €11.1m from Angers in 2021, and made 41 appearances in all competitions last season for the Midlands club. He scored five goals and provided seven assists, and was included in some people’s Premier League team of the season.
The Algeria international Ait-Nouri joined Wolves for €11.1m from Angers in 2021, having spent the previous season on loan, and made 41 appearances in all competitions last season for the Midlands club. He scored five goals and provided seven assists, and was included in some people’s Premier League team of the season. Aït-Nouri becomes Wolves’ second high-profile departure of the summer, with Manchester United having already agreed to sign Brazil striker Matheus Cunha for €74.2m. In a Man City club statement Ait-Nouri said: “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 excited about working with and learning from Pep Guardiola and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players.”
He will likely have to compete with City youngster Nico O’Reilly for the left-back berth in Pep Guardiola’s team, with Josko Gvardiol expected to be move into a left-centre-back role as the Croatian did towards the end of last season. The 24-year-old is a great dribbler of the ball and possesses a superb engine – he has the potential to add another dimension to the left-hand-side of City’s attack. Guardiola’s side are also expected to wrap up deals for midfielders Tijjani Reinders and Rayan Cherki this week.
