Ever since our investment seven years ago, City have been consistently active in the transfer market. Players and managers have come and gone, and all of a sudden we have a squad capable of competing at the highest level amongst Europe’s elite. Under the tenure of previous managers Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini, and current man at the helm, Manuel Pellegrini, we have made a number of high-profile signings that have accelerated us away from our previously mid-table status to the heights of the Premier League.
But which of these players have paid back their value and proved that City were right to invest in them? Here’s a look at our top 10 signings since 2008…
10. Martin Demichelis- Atletico Madrid (£4.2 million)
This may seem like an odd choice for many of you, but the experienced Argentinian defender has actually cemented himself as a key part of City’s defence in recent years. Considering the inferior price we paid for him back in 2013, City have certainly got the best out of a player who was initially signed only as back-up. But, to many people’s surprise, Martin has forced himself into the first-team. Admittedly, his rather casual approach did leave him subject to strong media criticism in his first season, but this did not stop the South American flourishing in his second term to win over his critics and become a fans favourite at The Etihad. His calm and measured approach to the game has made him a cool figurehead at the centre of defence, a reliable, adept professional who reads the game well.
Demi definitely makes the top 10 for me.
9. Fernandinho- Shakhtar Donetsk (£34 million)
Signed from the Ukrainian outfit in the summer of 2013, Fernandinho has arguably been City’s best signing under Pellegrini’s rule, with many of the current crop of City starts stemming from Mancini’s stay at the club. There were assumptions made upon the arrival of the Brazilian that the price tag was slightly on the steep side, but the central midfielder has become an integral outlet alongside Yaya Toure, providing apt cover for a defence that has become quite vulnerable this season. He mops up attacks and is fond of a good tackle. His defensive capabilities may not be as strong as his offensive qualities, but he still has a decent eye for goal and an impressive right foot from range. His strike against Burnley in December last year was a fine example of this. This was a great piece of business from Txiki Begiristain and his team; the Brazilian has amplified in quality during his stay in the Premier League, and was subsequently called up to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup last year; his country have started to recognise his qualities that have really blossomed since he signed for City.
8. James Milner- Aston Villa (£26 million)
A few months back, I wrote an article for Read Man City about my own feelings towards the Milner contract situation; emphasising the importance of the English talisman and how much I believed the club should attempt to keep him. However, you would had to have been living under a rock these past few weeks to not know that Milner has unfortunately agreed terms with Liverpool, which comes as sad news to all of us as City fans. We wish him well, as he has become a great servant to our club, giving one hundred percent on the pitch every game he played. In the article, I noted that Jimmy’s versatility was a key part of his game, together with his never-say-die attitude and commitment to his side. He was a great option to choose from in the squad; a reliable, hard-working team player who never failed to give his all. He will be missed, but for the right reasons. A truly wonderful, underrated signing.
7. Carlos Tevez- Manchester United (£25 million)
Becoming only the second player since Terry Cooke in 1999 to move across Manchester from United to City, Tevez’s rather rebellious attitude in a certain Champions League game against Bayern Munich will inevitably question my choice to place him on this list. But there is no denying that the Argentine was a real hit amongst City fans, forming a deadly partnership with Sergio Aguero that we have failed to emulate since. Carlos possessed skill and speed; yet incredible strength, and scored a hatful of goals during his stay at City, including a double against Chelsea in THAT 4-2 win in 2010; together with a brace in the League Cup against neighbours United in the same year. It really was a joy to watch Tevez’s qualities at the heart of our attack, and with David Silva providing the service, this really was a strike force to be reckoned with, and Carlos was at the heart of it. A memorable player.
6. Nigel De Jong- Hamburg (£18 million)
Signed by Mark Hughes back in 2009 from the Bundesliga outlet, you could have been forgiven for not knowing an awful lot about the Dutchman initially. But during his three-year stay in Manchester, De Jong became the no nonsense, anchor man of City’s midfield that everyone knew and loved. Not necessarily famed for his goals, the former Hamburg man prided himself in his defensive work, providing excellent cover for the central defenders and always fond of a hard, yet fair, challenge. You knew that the game was in safe hands when De Jong was on the field, adding to our overall physical presence compromised of solid Dutch muscle. Fernando was brought in by Pellegrini last summer as somewhat of a replacement for De Jong, but he has very much fallen short and is nowhere near as influential as the departed Dutchman, who moved to Milan in August 2012. A player that I was genuinely saddened to see jet off to the Italy, De Jong has been missed considerably in my eyes; yet he remains one of our best signings since the takeover, and one that I believe the club were foolish to let go. 
5. Pablo Zabaleta- Espanyol (undisclosed fee)
We now hit the top five, and the player who just creeps in is the great man that is Pablo Zabaleta. The Argentine was signed from the Spanish club back in the summer of 2008, and was one of the first signings courtesy of the investment. City fans don’t need reminding of how much of an asset the right-back has been for us, beating off competition from Micah Richards to establish himself as first choice in that area of the pitch. Like De Jong and Milner, he employs similar commitment levels and a strong work ethic that make him truly loved among the City faithful. The sight of Pablo over-lapping the attack on the right is a joy to watch, and many a time he has found himself amongst the goals and assists as a result of this; most notably, the opener in the ultimate game against QPR in 2012, as well as a late goal at Stoke to help City on their way to a second FA Cup final in 2013. Many City fans have criticised Pablo for his defensive work, but he is capable of a tackle and clearly gives his all for his team in every area of the pitch. It wouldn’t be a normal performance from our hard-hitting Argentine if there wasn’t any sort of wound dripping from his face; outlining Zaba’s duty and pledge to City.
I’ve even got a shirt with Zabaleta’s own rendition of ‘The Conga’ printed onto it in my wardrobe, and if that’s not a reason to place him in the top 5, then I don’t know what is! A truly likeable character on and off the field, he’s a man of genuine quality. Top class.
4. Yaya Toure- Barcelona (£24 million)
After everything the Ivorian has done for the club since his arrival in 2009, the £24 million we paid for him now seems like somewhat of a bargain. Famed for his notorious powerful runs and rippling shots from 25 yards, Toure is arguably City’s best ever midfield player. His goals have been of vital importance to us throughout his time here, and those calling for his head after a disappointing 2014/15 season clearly do not appreciate the work the African has done at the club, helping us secure our first major trophy in over 40 years in 2011 and aiding us on our way to two Premier League titles in three seasons. A real favourite amongst the City players and the fans, Toure has come into his own at City and given us the best years of his footballing career. Such a mesmerising player, it would seem wrong not to include Toure on this list.
3. Vincent Kompany- Hamburg (£6 million)
If the Toure deal looked like a bargain, then this one tops that. Vincent Kompany has gone from a previously unknown young central defender, to arguably one of the best in the world. He has slowly worked his way into the first-team since his arrival at City in 2008, and has become the captain, initiating and instructing his team mates influentially and coherently, labelling him alongside some of Europe’s most advanced defenders of the time. He is extremely powerful and has an excellent reading of the game, and provides an extra attacking outlet at set-pieces; this is most significantly shown by his famously important headed goal against United in 2012 to set City on their way to our first Premier League title that we won in such dramatic fashion. Kompany and Joleon Lescott initially formed a stable and uniformed central defence, and even now, without the Englishman, Vincent remains as solid as ever despite recurring hamstring issues, and has become a City legend.
2. David Silva- Valencia (£24 million)
At number two on the list is Spanish playmaker David Silva. The Spaniard joined the Blues from Valencia back in 2009 alongside a host of other signings, but this one stood out as the one many City fans were most excited about.
You honestly do run out of superlatives to describe ‘Merlin’, as he is known. A player of supreme quality, Silva can find a pass out of nowhere through the eye of a needle. His vision has led to a comparison with other Spanish greats- Xavi and Iniesta- and this has forced continuous interest from Real Madrid, with City maintaining that they will not be selling their prized magician any time soon.
Many of the goals City score come through the man himself, feeding the strikers superbly with pin-point passes, thereby placing him amongst the world’s best attacking midfielders.
We really are lucky to have a player of Silva’s quality within the ranks here; he is a truly irreplaceable man. One of the finest midfielders to ever grace The Etihad.
1. Sergio Aguero- Atletico Madrid (£38 million)
It wasn’t going to be anyone else, was it?
‘Kun’ arrived at the Etihad back in 2011 for a huge £38 million after impressing during his time in Spain with Atletico Madrid. City fans knew that they were getting a player of high quality, but no one could have expected what enormous impact Aguero would then go on to make on the blue half of Manchester.
Throughout his four seasons at the club, Aguero has notched over 100 goals; an incredible feat. He scored 2 goals on his debut against Swansea in August 2011 and the scoring clearly hasn’t stopped there.
A player with a low centre of gravity, speed, precision and strength, Aguero has all the qualities you look for in a striker. His eye for goal is second to none, and is the first name on the teamsheet every week. Ask a City fan about this man, and they will maintain that he is City’s best ever striker. No argument.
He is loved for a lot of things, but the most memorable is the image of him spinning his shirt in the air in ecstasy after scoring that famous injury-time winner against QPR to spectacularly win us the league in 2012. That moment will forever be cherished.
City’s best ever signing, not just in recent years, but in our history. A majestically astonishing footballer.
