How much money have Manchester City spent on signings since 2008?
Manchester City's billion-pound investment in new players since 2008 has finally paid off with a Champions League final spot this season.
Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired Manchester City in 2008, the club has spent a staggering £1.3bn (€1.5bn / $1.8bn) on 70 signings -- an investment that has been instrumental to the Blues rapid rise to the elite of European football over the past 13 years.
**Champions League final 2021: Man City vs Chelsea live**
Now that billion-pound investment has finally led to a Champions League final spot, the first in the club’s history, as Pep Guardiola’s men will look to achieve an impressive treble by overcoming Chelsea on Saturday night in Porto following their Premier League title-winning campaign and EFL Cup success.
Below we list Man City’s ten most expensive signings under Mansour’s 13-year reign to date, (based on transfemarkt.com valuations), all of whom are still active at the club and the majority of whom have been instrumental to the City’s incredible run this season.
Man City’s 10 most expensive signings
Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg, €76m)
Arguably Man City’s most valuable investment, former Chelsea man De Bruyne joined in 2015 from Wolfsburg. The Blues must still be kicking themselves for letting him go in 2014 and would undoubtedly love to have him on their side for the final Saturday. Currently valued at €100 million, the Belgian has clocked up 107 assists and 67 goals in 261 games for City.
Ruben Dias (Benfica, €68m)
After a two-year pursuit, City finally signed Dias from Benfica for €68m in the summer of 2020. With incredible leadership qualities, Pep Guardiola said recently that he believes it is only a matter of time before the 24-year-old center back becomes club captain. The Portuguese defender has made 52 appearances and provided two goals in his debut season at the Etihad. He has also made more starts than every player except goalkeeper Edison this season.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester, €67.8m)
Riyad Mahrez joined from Leicester in July 2018 and has proven his worth, with 39 goals and 37 assists in 141 games for City.
Joao Cancelo (Juventus, €65m)
Joao Cancelo, the second Portuguese defender in the top five, was signed from Juventus in 2019 for €65m. In terms of starts this season, he ranks fourth among outfield players with 27. In his two seasons at City, he has managed six assists and four goals in 76 games.
Aymeric Laporte (Athletic, €65m)
The fourth of five defenders to make up the top five, Laporte was signed from LaLiga club Athletic Bilbao in 2017 for €65m. The centre-back settled in quickly but has struggled for his starting position this season, having started just 37% of City’s Premier League fixtures. His current value is €50m.
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool, €63.7m)
Like De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling has been instrumental to City’s success over the past few years, and was signed in the same summer as the Belgian, with Liverpool letting him go for €63.7 million in 2015. Guardiola has got the best out of the English winger, who has provided 114 goals and 87 assists in 291 games for City. Among outfield players, he has started the third highest number of games this season with 28.
Rodri (Atlético Madrid, €62.7m)
Brought in from Atlético Madrid for €62.7m in the summer of 2019, the Spaniard is an indispensable fixture in Guardiola’s starting XI. Behind Ruben Dias, he is the outfield player with the second highest number of starts this season with 31. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder has been an integral part of Manchester City's incredible run this campaign.
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco, €57.5m)
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Signed from Monaco for €57.5m in 2017, Mendy has seen his value drop from a €45 million peak in 2018 to €22m currently. He missed most of his first season at the Etihad through injury. This season he has found himself on the periphery, having started just 29% of City’s Premier League games.
John Stones (Everton, €55.6m)
Having experienced an error-laden start to his career at City after completing a €55.6m move from Everton in 2016, Stones went on to become first-choice for club and country and a rock in the Blues defence. He remains a regular starter alongside Ruben Diaz.
Kyle Walker (Spurs, €52.7m)
Part of a trio of full-backs bought in for a staggering £131.5m in 2017, Walker was the only one of them to feature regularly in that 2017-18 season, making an enormous impact down the right flank. The Englishman is still the most used right back at the club.