Manchester City have officially completed the signing of Algerian left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers, marking their first major acquisition of the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old has penned a five-year contract, tying him to the Etihad Stadium until 2030. The deal, reported to be worth an initial £31 million with potential add-ons pushing it to around £36.3 million, signals a significant investment in reinforcing a position that has long been a challenge for Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Ait-Nouri’s arrival comes just in time for the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, where City will kick off their campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC on June 18, 2025. The Algeria international is expected to feature prominently as City seek to bounce back from a rare trophyless 2024/25 season, their first since 2016/17. Alongside Ait-Nouri, the club is also on the verge of finalizing deals for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki, both of whom are anticipated to be registered for the Club World Cup as well.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s journey to Manchester City is a tale of steady progression and resilience. Born and raised in the suburbs of Paris, he began his footballing education at local clubs AS Val de Fontenay and ASF Le Perreux 94 before moving to Paris FC’s youth setup. His potential caught the eye of Angers, where he joined their academy in 2016 and signed his first professional contract in 2018. He made his Ligue 1 debut against Paris Saint-Germain in August 2018 and accumulated 23 appearances for Angers before making the leap to the Premier League.
In October 2020, Ait-Nouri joined Wolves on loan, making an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace. His loan spell featured 24 appearances across all competitions, convincing Wolves to secure his services permanently in 2021 for £14.9 million. Over five seasons at Molineux, he amassed 157 appearances, contributing 12 goals and 19 assists—a testament to his dual-threat capabilities both defensively and offensively.
Last season (2024/25), Ait-Nouri showcased his attacking prowess with five goals and seven assists in 41 appearances, playing a pivotal role in Wolves’ successful fight against relegation. His offensive contributions ranked him among the Premier League’s elite defenders: he was second in completed dribbles, fourth in chances created, and among the top scorers and assist providers in his position. Defensively, he was no slouch either, ranking sixth in tackles and leading all Premier League defenders in regaining possession in the final third.
Former Wolves assistant manager Edu Rubio praised Ait-Nouri’s technical ability, noting, “His technical competency, his ability and skill in tight areas—keeping the ball close to his feet—give him the opportunity to fit perfectly into Guardiola's possession-based play. He can also dribble with speed, to get the team up the pitch driving with the ball, which is probably what Manchester City need right now—players who can break lines.” Rubio also highlighted areas for improvement, such as decision-making speed and end product, which City’s environment is well suited to develop.
Since Benjamin Mendy’s departure nearly four years ago, Manchester City have lacked a specialist left-back. The role has been filled intermittently by converted midfielders like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo, or by defenders like Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Aké. Ait-Nouri’s signing is seen as a strategic move by the club’s new director of football, Hugo Viana, who expressed excitement about the acquisition: “Rayan is a player that as a club we have been following closely for quite some time and we are delighted he has joined us. He already has extensive Premier League experience and has also demonstrated his quality at international level with Algeria.”
Viana added, “We feel sure that he will be an excellent addition to our squad and that working alongside Pep and his coaching staff will help develop his game even further. And at just 24, he is someone we feel sure will help us in our objective to bring more success to the club.”
For his part, Ait-Nouri expressed his enthusiasm and readiness for the challenge ahead: “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 also excited about working with and learning from Pep and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world-class group of players. Joining City is also a very proud moment for my family too. Now I can’t wait to get started and to play in front of our supporters.”
Manchester City’s summer spending spree is already eye-watering. Following a £200 million outlay in the January transfer window, the club is poised to push its 2025 spending to around £250 million with the addition of Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki, and others. The club is also in talks to sign English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea as a third-choice keeper, aiming to complete the deal before the transfer deadline on June 10, 2025. Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson will depart the club as his contract expires this summer.
City’s squad overhaul comes amid a desire to reclaim domestic and European dominance after missing out on major silverware last season. The Club World Cup represents an early opportunity for the revamped squad to gel and start adding trophies to the cabinet once again. The group stage will feature matches against Wydad AC, Al Ain, and Juventus—tests that will showcase the new signings’ integration and impact.
With Ait-Nouri’s blend of defensive solidity, attacking flair, and youthful energy, Manchester City fans have every reason to be excited. As former Wolves coach Edu Rubio put it, “He is a very versatile player who can operate in any position down the flank, or by playing as an inverted full-back. At a club like City, he will need to get his assist ratio higher, but it is something he can definitely do.”
As the summer window continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium to see how Pep Guardiola’s squad shapes up. The arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri is a clear statement of intent—City are ready to compete on all fronts with a refreshed and formidable lineup.
