Man City buy costly new midfield - but have they overlooked Haaland cover?
September 2, 2026 22:07
Manchester City have completed a major squad overhaul under new manager Enzo Maresca, spending a Premier League‑record £458m in the summer window as part of a wider recruitment drive that has seen them spend £542m on incoming players since the turn of the year. The club paid a joint‑British record £125m for Enzo Fernandez and also signed Elliot Anderson for £116m and 18‑year‑old Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m; those three accounted for the bulk of the summer outlay.
Several established midfielders left as part of the rebuild — notably Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez — meaning the club’s midfield has been almost entirely renewed. City have won their opening two Premier League matches under Maresca and now have multiple senior options in most positions, according to club sources.
KEY CONTEXT
- The recruitment marks the first transfer window under director of football Hugo Viana and manager Enzo Maresca since Pep Guardiola’s departure.
- City say the overhaul began in earnest after difficulties in early 2025, with January moves and this summer’s activity forming a multi‑window rebuild. Only four players remain from the starting XI and bench that won the 2023 Champions League final.
- Sales have helped offset spending: City have recouped £334m over the same period (including fees such as £75m for Savinho, £65m for Rodri and £52m for Reijnders), leaving a net spend of £208m in 2026. A future obligation — Tottenham’s required purchase of Omar Marmoush — will further affect finances.
WHY IT MATTERS
The scale and cost of the midfield reconstruction represent a clear stylistic and personnel reset for Manchester City. Acquiring Fernandez, Anderson and Bouaddi gives Maresca multiple versatile midfield options who can operate across his systems, and the club believes those signings strengthen the squad compared with the start of last season. How Maresca deploys his players is already visible in match selections: the team has alternated between a two‑holding "box" midfield and a single‑holding "diamond," showing tactical flexibility early on.
At the same time, the turnover raises questions about squad balance: with so many midfield departures and high value tied up in new recruits, the club and fans are watching whether other areas — and specific cover for key attacking players — have been sufficiently planned for.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- How Maresca manages selection with the enlarged midfield group and whether the box or diamond shape becomes the default.
- Whether Nico O’Reilly shifts into a more central role to help cover the loss of Nico Gonzalez, as the club has indicated is a possibility.
- Clarification on squad depth around the forward line: the source text highlights an open question about whether adequate backup exists for the club’s main striker, which remains unresolved in the reporting.
- Financial follow‑ups, including the completion of Tottenham’s obligation for Marmoush, which will affect City’s net spend calculations.
KEY FACTS
- Manchester City spent £458m in the summer window, a Premier League record; total spend since the turn of the year is £542m.
- Enzo Fernandez joined for £125m (joint‑British record); Elliot Anderson for £116m; Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m.
- The club recouped £334m in sales during the same period, leaving a 2026 net spend of £208m.
- Departures include Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez; only four players remain from the XI and bench that won the 2023 Champions League final.
- Maresca has used both a box (two holding midfielders) and a diamond (one holding midfielder) in early matches; Anderson has featured at the base in both shapes.