Updated at 09:00 BST 22/07/2026.
Two big midfield stories dominate the last 48 hours: Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Tijjani Reijnders — previously expected to leave — has been told he’ll get a clean slate under Enzo Maresca, largely down to the uncertainty still hanging over Rodri’s contract.
Elsewhere, Rodri himself continues rejecting renewal offers, with Real Madrid’s actual intentions still unclear, and Phil Foden has been linked with Barcelona even as reports suggest a new City contract is close.
✅ Confirmed signings
Elliot Anderson — Nottingham Forest, midfielder. Club-record £116m deal, medical completed in Kansas during the World Cup. Formalities finalised on his return to England.
Jeremy Monga — Leicester City, forward. £12.5m deal (£10m up front, £2.5m in add-ons), City beating off competition from Arsenal and Manchester United.
Pierce Charles — Sheffield Wednesday, goalkeeper. Agreed deal as City strengthen their goalkeeping options behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Heaven Kilwa — Aston Villa academy, 16-year-old defender. Turned down a new Villa Park scholarship to join City’s academy setup.
Mathys Detourbet — loan to Monaco, confirmed alongside the early-window business.
Mishel Nduka ⭐ NEW — Arsenal academy, 16-year-old midfielder. Confirmed by David Ornstein, Nduka turned down a competitive long-term Arsenal offer to join City on scholarship terms, with a professional contract to follow. Second Arsenal academy prospect taken this summer after Monga.
Josko Gvardiol contract renewal — not a transfer, but a significant retention. New deal until June 2031, ending Real Madrid’s interest.
❌ Deals that collapsed
Hermann Malonga (PSG, centre-back) — City’s move for the 18-year-old had been reported as complete back in June, including on this site, but Fabrizio Romano confirmed the agreement has collapsed. No reason has been given. Treat earlier reports of a “done deal” as incorrect; his situation at PSG is now unresolved.
🔴 Confirmed departures
Reigan Heskey — FC Koln, forward. Permanent transfer, subject to international clearance, for the 18-year-old academy graduate. Contract talks had stalled before he opted for a fresh start in the Bundesliga.
Manuel Akanji — Inter Milan, £13m purchase option triggered following Inter’s Serie A title win.
Bernardo Silva — Real Madrid, free transfer after his City contract expired. Silva has signed a two-year deal at the Bernabeu, running to June 2028, with Jose Mourinho’s appointment reported as a factor in his choice over interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
John Stones — released as a free agent after a decade at the club. Now reported to be leaning towards a London move, with Arsenal favourites over Chelsea, complicating any reunion talk elsewhere.
Nathan Aké — Fenerbahce, permanent move confirmed.
Matty Warhurst — Northampton Town, academy striker. Permanent £100,000 deal with a sell-on clause, following a prolific record of 61 goals in 97 appearances at academy level.
🔵 Live targets — incoming
Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille, midfielder) ⭐ UPDATED — City have reached an agreement in principle over personal terms, with the 18-year-old understood to have accepted a contract to June 2031. Talks with Lille over a fee are now underway, with the French side holding out for around €100m (£85m). City are working to get ahead of Manchester United, Arsenal and two further unnamed European clubs.
Manu Kone (AS Roma, midfielder) — City have held talks with intermediaries over a move for the France international, dubbed a “one-man army” in midfield, in a deal that could cost around £50m. Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have also been sounded out.
Said El Mala (FC Köln, winger) — City are looking to accelerate a move for the 19-year-old, with Reigan Heskey’s move to Köln in the opposite direction understood to be smoothing the relationship between the two clubs. Newcastle and Chelsea are also credited with interest.
Alex Scott (Bournemouth, midfielder) — City have made a direct approach, but Manchester United are the more advanced suitor, and Bournemouth’s stated position is that he isn’t for sale this summer at any price.
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, midfielder) — City have made an approach, though Real’s stance remains that he isn’t for sale unless he pushes for an exit himself.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid, midfielder) — Linked alongside Manchester United, but City’s interest has reportedly cooled as Maresca’s midfield rebuild leans toward younger, longer-term profiles.
Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain, winger) — City’s leading target to directly replace Savinho. PSG are said to be holding out for around £50m, with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund also in the picture.
Max-Edgar Chabot (Angers, goalkeeper) — City are closing in on the 18-year-old France youth international, who has rejected a first professional contract at Angers.
Malo Gusto (Chelsea, right-back) — Personal terms reported as agreed, giving City the “green light” for a reunion with Maresca. The deal remains stalled over Chelsea’s £75m valuation.
Jules Kounde (Barcelona, right-back/centre-back) — City among clubs alerted to his potential availability, with Barcelona said to be seeking above €50m.
Givairo Read (Feyenoord, winger) — Monitored by City’s recruitment team, and could become a more direct option if Gusto’s price doesn’t move.
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, forward) — City competing with Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth, forward) — Linked as a potential support option for Haaland, with Arsenal and PSG also interested.
Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, winger) — Liverpool pushing for a quick agreement; City monitoring alongside PSG.
Ørjan Nyland (free agent, goalkeeper) — Considered as low-cost cover, contingent on James Trafford’s exit being confirmed.
🔵 Live targets — outgoing
Savinho (winger) — Verbal agreement in place with Tottenham worth around £65m. A medical is expected imminently, with the move set to be finalised before Spurs’ pre-season plans progress further.
James Trafford (goalkeeper) — Newcastle remain the clearest suitors, with City said to be demanding around £40m. Aston Villa, Tottenham, Chelsea and Leeds have also been credited with interest.
Rico Lewis (right-back/midfielder) — Everton have emerged as clear frontrunners, with David Moyes personally pushing for a deal worth around £30m. Premier League loan rules complicate matters if Everton also pursue a second Jack Grealish loan, pushing them toward a permanent deal for Lewis.
Kalvin Phillips (midfielder) — Advanced discussions over a loan return to Sheffield United.
Mateo Kovacic (midfielder) — Framed as part of a genuine midfield overhaul rather than simple rotation, with AC Milan interested.
Omar Marmoush (striker) — Atlético Madrid remain the most frequently linked suitor, with Tottenham also reported to be preparing an official bid. City are said to be looking for a fee in the £52m–£70m range.
Jack Grealish (winger) — City remain open to a permanent sale, but a second loan — this time to Everton — remains the more realistic outcome given the gap between City’s valuation and Everton’s ceiling.
Phil Foden (winger) ⭐ NEW — Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Foden as a potential opportunity signing following his reduced role last season. However, separate reporting suggests City and Foden are close to agreeing a new four-year contract extension to 2030, which would make the Barcelona interest largely moot.
🟡 Contract situations
Rodri (midfielder) ⭐ UPDATED — Rodri has continued rejecting City’s renewal offers, with reports suggesting he wants a return to Spain and is holding out for a formal Real Madrid approach. However, Real’s own stance remains genuinely unclear — separate reporting from Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic suggests Florentino Perez has cooled on the move, with Jose Mourinho’s midfield plans said to centre on Aurélien Tchouaméni instead. His current deal runs to 2027.
Tijjani Reijnders (midfielder) ⭐ NEW — Reijnders had been expected to leave this summer, with Galatasaray, Juventus and a Milan return all linked. Enzo Maresca is now planning to keep him and give him a genuine chance to establish himself, with Rodri’s contract uncertainty a significant factor — City want midfield cover, not fewer options, while that situation remains unresolved.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, forward) — City have been “kept informed” of Kane’s contract situation, with just a year left on his current deal. Speculative and nothing close to live.
