Manchester City has been a revolving door ever since they became one of the richest clubs in the world after the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008.
After a slow start to the new regime, Manchester City quickly established themselves as one of the top teams in the Premier League and are now the dominant force thanks to the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
Since Sheik Mansour bought City, the club has added eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, the Champions League to complete a treble, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup to their trophy cabinet.
The Blues’ rise has obviously been aided by the near-unlimited transfer budget they have had at their disposal and it has been put to fantastic and often bewildering use over the years.
Starting by signing an array of Premier League talents to now signing some of the best players in the world, along with a host of names you probably can’t remember, City’s transfer history since 2008 makes for interesting reading.
Here is every player they have bought and sold every year since.
- Man City 2024/25 squad cost in full: Transfer fees and stats for every player
More Man City News
2008/09
TRANSFERS IN:
- Robinho, Real Madrid: £32.5m
- Jo, CSKA Moscow: £19m
- Shaun Wright-Phillips, Chelsea: £8.5m
- Pablo Zabaletta, Espanyol: £6.45m
- Vincent Kompany, Hamburg: £8.5m
- Tal Ben Haim, Chelsea: £5m
- Glauber, Nuremberg: Free
- Nigel de Jong, Hamburg: £17m
- Craig Bellamy, West Ham: £14m
- Wayne Bridge, Chelsea: £12m
- Shay Given, Newcastle United: £6m
- Gunnar Nielsen, Blackburn Rovers: Free
Total spend: £129m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Vedran Corluka, Tottenham: £8.5m
- Rolando Bianchi, Torino: £5m
- Andreas Isaksson, PSV: £2m
- Georgios Samaras, Celtic: £3m
- Matt Mills, Doncaster Rovers: £300k
- Jo, Everton: Loan
- Gunnar Nielsen, Wrexham: Loan
- Tal Ben Haim, Sunderland: Loan
- Bernardo Corradi, Emile Mpenza, Paul Dickov, Geovanni, Rihai Sun: Released
2009/10
TRANSFERS IN:
- Carlos Tevez, West Ham: £25.5m
- Emmanuel Adenayor, Arsenal: £25m
- Joleon Lescott, Everton: £22m
- Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn Rovers: £17m
- Kolo Toure, Arsenal: £14m
- Gareth Barry, Aston Villa: £12m
- Sylvinho, Barcelona: Free
- Stuart Taylor, Aston Villa: Free
- Marton Fulop, Sunderland: Loan
- Adam Johnson, Middlesbrough: £7m
- Patrick Vieira, Inter: Free
Total spend: £122.5m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea: £8.3m
- Elano, Galatasaray: £8m
- Richard Dunne, Aston Villa: £5m
- Ched Evans, Sheffield United: £3m
- Gelson Fernandes: Saint-Etienne: £4.2m
- Joe Hart, Birmingham City: Loan
- Tal Ben Haim, Portsmouth: Free
- Kasper Schmeichel, Notts County: Free
- Darius Vassel, Ankaragucu, Free
- Jo, Galatasaray: Loan
- Benjani, Sunderland: Loan
- Robinho, Santos: Loan
- Vladimir Weiss, Bolton: Loan
- Felipe Caicedo, Malaga, Loan
- Glauber, Michael Ball, Dietmar Hamann: Released
- Danny Mills: Retired
2010/11
TRANSFERS IN:
- Yaya Toure, Barcelona: £24m
- Mario Balotelli, Inter: £22.5m
- David Silva, Valencia: £24m
- Aleksandar Kolorov, Lazio: £18.9m
- James Milner, Aston Villa: £26m
- Jerome Boateng, Hamburg: £10.5m
- Edin Dzeko, Wolfsburg: £27m
Total spend: £152.9m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Robinho, AC Milan: £15m
- Stephen Ireland, Aston Villa: £8m
- Javier Garrido, Lazio: £2.5m
- Valeri Bozhinov, Parma:
- Vladimir Weiss, Rangers: Loan
- Nedum Onuoha, Sunderland: Loan
- Emmanuel Adebayor, Real Madrid: Loan (£3m fee)
- Wayne Bridge, West Ham United: Loan
- Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn Rovers: Loan
- Craig Bellamy, Cardiff City: Loan
- Benjani, Blackburn Rovers: Free
- Karl Moore, UCD: Free
- Martin Petrov, Bolton: Free
- Sylvinho: Retired
- Kelvin Etuhu: Released
2011/12
TRANSFERS IN:
- Sergio Aguero, Atletico Madrid: £38m
- Samir Nasri, Arsenal: £25m
- Stefan Savic, Partizan Belgrade: £6m
- Gael Clichy, Arsenal: £7m
- Costel Pantilimon, Timisoara: £3m
- Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United: Free
- David Pizarro, Roma: Loan
Total spend: £79m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Jerome Boateng, Bayern Munich: £12.8m
- Shaun Wright-Phillips, QPR: £3m
- Shay Given, Aston Villa: £3.5m
- Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham: Loan
- Roque Santa Cruz, Real Betis: Loan
- Felipe Caicedo, Levante: £880k
- Craig Bellamy, Liverpool: Free
- Jo, Internacional: Free
- Nedum Onuoha, QPR:
- Patrick Vieira: Retired
- Dedryck Boyata, Bolton Wanderers: Loan
- Abdul Razak, Portsmouth: Loan
- Michael Johnson, Leicester City: Loan
- David Gonzalez, Brighton: Free
- Wayne Bridge, Sunderland: Loan
- Frederic Veseli, Manchester United: Free
- Kieran Trippier, Burnley: Undisclosed
- Ben Mee, Burnley: Undisclosed
- Vladimir Weiss, Espanyol: Loan
2012/13
TRANSFERS IN:
- Javi Garcia, Benfica: £15.8m
- Matija Nastasic, Fiorentina: £12m
- Jack Rodwell, Everton: £12m
- Scott Sinclair, Swansea City: £8m
- Maicon, Inter: £3m
- Richard Wright, Preston North End: Free
Total spend: £50.8m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Mario Balotelli, AC Milan: £22m
- Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham: £5m
- Nigel de Jong, AC Milan: £5m
- Vladimir Weiss, Pescara: Undisclosed
- Stefan Savic, Fiorentina: Free (as part of Nastasic transfer)
- Roque Santa Cruz, Malaga: Loan
- Stuart Taylor, Reading: Free
- Wayne Bridge, Brighton: Loan
- Adam Johnson, Sunderland: £10m
- Dedyrick Boyata, FC Twente: Loan
- Owen Hargreaves: Retired
- Michael Johnson: Retired
2013/14
TRANSFERS IN:
- Fernandinho, Shakthar Donetsk: £34m
- Stevan Jovetic, Fiorentina: £22m
- Alvaro Negredo, Sevilla: £20m
- Jesus Navas, Sevilla: £14.9m
- Martin Demichelis, Atletico Madrid: £4.2m
Total spend: £95.1m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Carlos Tevez, Juventus: £12m
- Scott Sinclair, West Brom: Loan
- Wayne Bridge, Reading: Free
- Gareth Barry, Everton: Loan
- Maicon, Roma: Free
- Abdul Razak, Anzhi Makhachkala: Free
- Roque Santa Cruz, Malaga: Free
- Kolo Toure, Liverpool: Free
- Reece Wabara: Released
2014/15
TRANSFERS IN:
- Eliaquim Mangala, Porto: £32m
- Wilfried Bony, Swansea City: £25m
- Fernando, Porto: £12m
- Willy Caballero, Malaga: £4.4m
- Bruno Zuculini, Racing Club: £1.5m
- Bacary Sagna, Arsenal: Free
- Frank Lampard, New York City: Loan
Total spend: £74.9m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Javi Garcia, Zenit St. Petersburg: £13m
- Jack Rodwell, Sunderland: £10m
- Micah Richards, Fiorentina: Loan
- Matija Nastasic, Schalke: Loan
- Bruno Zuculini, Valencia and Cordoba: Loan
- Joleon Lescott, West Brom: Free
- Costel Pantilimon, sunderland: Free
- Gareth Barry, Everton: Free
- Scott Sinclair, Aston Villa: Loan
- Jason Denayer, Celtic: Loan
- Alvaro Negredo, Valencia: Loan
2015/16
TRANSFERS IN:
- Kevin De Bruyne, Wolfsburg: £53m
- Raheem Sterling, Liverpool: £49m
- Nicolas Otamendi, Valencia: £32m
- Fabian Delph, Aston Villa: £8m
- Patrick Roberts, Fulham: £11m
- Enes Unal, Bursaspor: £2m
- Ruben Sobrino: Ponferradina: £300k
- Anthony Caceres, Central Coast: £150k
- Florian Lejeune, Girona: £225k
Total spend: £155.7m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Alvaro Negredo, Valencia: £23.8m
- Rony Lopes, Monaco: £9m
- Matija Nastasic, Schalke: £10m
- Karim Rezik, Marseille: £3.5m
- Edin Dzeko, Roma: Loan
- Scott Sinclair, Aston Villa: £2.5m
- Stevan Jovetic, Inter: Loan
- Dedryck Boyata, Celtic: £1.5m
- Jose Pozo, Almeria: £600k
- Jason Denayer, Galatasaray: Loan
- Micah Richards, Aston Villa: Free
- John Guidetti, Celta Vigo: Free
- James Milner, Liverpool: Free
2016/17
TRANSFERS IN:
- John Stones, Everton: £50m
- Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund: £20m
- Leroy Sane, Scalke: £37m
- Claudio Bravo, Barcelona: £15.4m
- Nolito, Celta Vigo: £13.8m
- Gabriel Jesus, Palmeiras: £27m
- Marlos Moreno: Atletico Nacional: £4.75m
- Geronimo Rulli, Maldonado: £4m
- Aleks Zinchenko, Ufa: £1.7m
- Yangel Herrera, Atl. Venezuela: £1m
- Pablo Mari, Gimastic: £100k
- Aaron Mooy, Melbourne City: Free
Total spend: £174.8m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Stevan Jovetic, Inter: £12.2m
- Edin Dzeko, Roma: £10.8m
- Geronimo Rulli, Real Sociedad: £5.8m
- Wilfried Bony, Stoke City: Loan
- Florian Lejeune, Eidbar: £900k
- Martin Demichelis, Espanyol: Free
- Eliaquim Mangala, Vlaencia: Loan
- Samir Nasri, Sevilla: Loan
- Joe Hart, Torino: Loan
- Pablo Mari, Griona: Loan
- Marlos Moreno, Deportivo: Loan
- Aaron Mooy, Huddersfield: Loan
- Aleks Zinchenko, PSV: Loan
- Yangel Herrera, New York City: Loan
- Richard Wright: Retired
2017/18
TRANSFERS IN:
- Kyle Walker, Tottenham: £50m
- Bernardo Silva, Monaco: £43m
- Ederson, Benfica: £35m
- Danilo, Real Madrid: £26.5
- Benjamin Mendy, Monaco: £52m
- Aymeric Laporte, Athletic: £57m
- Douglas Luiz, Vasco da Gama: £10m
- Jack Harrison, New York City: £3m
- Olarenwaju Kayode, Austria Vienna: £3.5m
- Luka Ilic, Red Star: £4m
Total spend: £284m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City: £25m
- Enes Unal, Villarreall: £12m
- Wilfried Bony, Swansea City: £13m
- Aaron Mooy, Huddersfield Town: £10m
- Nolito, Sevilla: £7m
- Fernando, Galatasarayy: £4m
- Aleksandar Kolarov, Roma: £5.8m
- Samir Nasri, Antalyaspor: £3.2m
- Joe Hart, West Ham: Loan
- Ruben Sobrino, Alaves: £1.5m
- Bruno Zuculini, Hallas Verona: £1m
- Jason Denayer, Galatasaray: Loan
- Willy Caballero, Chelsea: Free
- Gael Clichy, Basaksehir: Free
- Jesus Navas, Sevilla: Free
- Pablo Zabaleta, West Ham: Free
- Luka Ilic, Red Star: Loan
- Jack Harrison, Middlesbrough: Loan
- Angus Gunn, Norwich City: Loan
- Marlos Moreno, Girona and Flamengo: Loan
- Patrick Roberts, Celtic: Loan
- Eliaquim Mangala, Everton: Loan
- Olarenwaju Kayode, Girona and Shakhtar Donetsk: Loan
- Douglas Luiz, Girona: Loan
- Aleix Garcia, Girona: Loan
- Pablo Maffeo, Girona: Loan
- Anthony Caceres, Al-Wasl: Loan
- Bersant Celina, Ipswich Town: Loan
- Pablo Mari, NAC Breda: Loan
- Bacary Sagna: Released
2018/19
TRANSFERS IN:
- Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City: £60m
- Philippe Sandler, PEC Zwolle: £2.5m
- Daniel Arzani, Melbourne City: £600k
- Ante Palaversa, Hajduk Split: £7m
- Ko Itakura, Kawasaki Front: £1m
Total spend: £71m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Brahim Diaz, Real Madrid: £15.5m
- Angus Gunn, Southampton: £13.5m
- Jadon Denayer, Lyon: £9m
- Pablo Maffeo, Stuttgart: £8.8m
- Joe Hart, Burnley: £3.5m
- Bersant Celina, Swansea City: £4m
- Olarnwaju Kayode, Shakhtar Donetsk: Undisclosed
- Yaya Toure, Olympiacos: Free
- Ari Muric, NAC Breda: Loan
- Jack Harrison, Leeds: Loan
- Daniel Arzani, Celtic: Loan
- Patrick Roberts, Girona: Loan
- Luka Ilic, NAC Breda: Loan
- Pablo Mari, Deportivo: Loan
- Yangel Herrera, Huesca: Loan
- Ante Palaversa, Hajduk Split: Loan
- Ko Itakura, FC Groningen: Loan
2019/20
TRANSFERS IN:
- Rodri, Atletico Madrid: £62.5m
- Joao Cancelo, Juventus: £60m
- Angelino, PSV: £5.35m
- Pedro Porro, Girona: £11m
- Zack Steffen, Columbus Crew: £7m
- Ryotaro Meshino, Gamba Osaka: £800k
- Scott Carson, Derby County: Loan
- Slobodan Tedic, FK Cukaricki: £2.7m
Total spend: £147.35m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Danilo, Juventus: £34.1m
- Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa: £15m
- Fabian Delph, Everton: £10m
- Manu Garcia, Sporting Gijon: £3.7m
- Pablo Mari, Flamengo: £1m
- Vincent Kompany, Anderlecht: Free
- Eliaquim Mangala, Valencia: Free
- Luke Brattan, Sydney FC: Free
- Anthony Caceres, Sydney FC: Free
- Ari Muric, Nottingham Forest: Loan
- Philippe Sandler, Anderlecht: Loan
- Pedro Porro: Real Valladolid: Loan
- Angelino, RB Leipzig: Loan
- Ryotaro Meshino, Hearts: Loan
- Aleiz Garcia, Mouscron: Loan
- Lukas Nmecha, Wolfsburg and Middlesbrough: Loan
- Yangel Herrera, Granada: Loan
- Zack Steffen, Dusseldorf: Loan
- Ante Palaversa, KV Oostende: Loan
- Patrick Roberts, Norwich City and Middlesbrough: Loan
2020/21
TRANSFERS IN:
- Ruben Dias, Benfica: £65m
- Nathan Ake, Bournemouth: £41m
- Ferran Torres, Valencia: £20.8m
- Nahuel Bustos, Talleres: £6m
- Yan Couto, Coritiba: £5m
- Issa Kabore, Mechelen: £4m
- Diego Rosa, Gremio: £4.5m
Total spend: £146.3m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Leroy Sane, Bayern Munich: £54.8m
- Nicolas Otamendia, Benfica: £15m
- Nahuel Bustos, Girona: Loan
- Aleix Garcia, FC Dinamo: Free
- David Silva, Real Sociedad: Free
- Lukas Nmecha, Anderlecht: Loan
- Claudio Bravo, Real Betis: Free
- Patrick Roberts, Middlesbrough and Derby: Loan
- Daniel Arzani, Aarhus and Utrecht: Loan
- Luka Ilic, FC Twente: Loan
- Marlos Moreno, Lommel: Loan
- Yan Couto, Girona: Loan
- Ari Muric, Girona and Willem II: Loan
- Ryotaro Meshino, Rio Ave: Loan
- Slobodan Tedi, PEC Zwolle: Loan
- Ante Palaversa, Getafe and KV Kortrijk: Loan
- Pedro Porro, Sporting: Loan
- Issa Kabore, Mechelen: Loan
- Ko Itakura, Groningen: Loan
- Diego Rosa, Lommel: Loan
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Blackburn Rovers: Loan
2021/22
TRANSFERS IN:
- Jack Grealish, Aston Villa: £100m
- Scott Carson, Derby County: Free
- Julian Alvarez, River Plate: £15m
Total spend: £115m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Angelino, RB Leipzig: £16.3m
- Ferran Torres, Barcelona: £46.3m (rising to £54.7m)
- Jack Harrison, Leeds United: £11m
- Lukas Nmecha, Wolfsburg: £11m
- Ari Muric, Adana Demirspor: Loan
- Eric Garcia, Barcelona: Free
- Sergio Aguero, Barcelona: Free
- Erik Palmer-Brown, Troyes: Free
- Philippe Sandler, Feyenoord: Free
- Julian Alvarez, River Plate: Loan
- Yangel Herrera, Espanyol: Loan
- Yan Couto, Braga: Loan
- Marlos Moreno, KV Kortrijk: Loan
- Ko Italura, Schalke: Loan
- Daniel Arzani, Lommel: Loan
- Ryotaro Meshino, Estoril Praia: Loan
- Issa Kabore, Troyes: Loan
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Anderlecht and Stoke: Loan
- Luka Ilic, Troyes: Undisclosed
2022/23
TRANSFERS IN:
- Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund: £51m
- Kalvin Phillips, Leeds United: £45m
- Manuel Akanji, Borussia Dortmund: £15m
- Sergio Gomez, Anderlecht: £11m
- Stefan Ortega, Arminia Bielefeld: Free
- Maximo Perrone, Velez Sasfield: £8.2m
Total spend: £130.2m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Raheem Sterling, Chelsea: £47.5m (rising to £50m)
- Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal: £45m
- Aleks Zinchenko, Arsenal: £30m (rising to £32m)
- Pedro Porro, Sporting: £7m
- Ko Itakura, Borussia Monchengladbach: £4.3m
- Ari Muric, Burnley: £3m
- Fernandinho, Athletico-PR: Free
- Daniel Arzani, Macarthur: Free
- Ryotaro Meshino, Gamba Osaka: Free
- Diego Rosa, EC Bahia: £1.3m
- Joao Cancelo, Bayern Munich: Loan
- Nahuel Bustos, Sao Paulo: Loan
- Issa Kabore, Marseille: Loan
- Yangel Herrera, Girona: Loan
- Slobodan Tedic, Barnsley: Loan
- Zack Steffen, Middlesbrough: Loan
- Ante Palaversa, Troyes: Undisclosed
- Marlos Moreno, Troyes: Undisclosed
- Yan Couto, Girona: Loan
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Burnley: Loan
- Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, Coventry City: Loan
- Thomas Agyepong: Released
2023/24
TRANSFERS IN:
- Josko Gvardiol, RB Leipzig: £77.6m
- Matheus Nunes, Wolves: £54m
- Jeremy Doku, Rennes: £55.5m
- Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea: £25m
- Claudio Echeverri, River Plate: £12.5m
Total spend: £224.6m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Cole Palmer, Chelsea: £42.5m
- Riyad Mahrez, Al-Ahli: £30m
- Aymeric Laporte, Al-Nassr: £23.6m
- Yangel Herrera, Girona: Undisclosed
- Ilkay Gundogan, Barcelona: Free
- Benjamin Mendy, FC Lorient: Free
- Joao Cancelo, Barcelona: Loan
- Kalvin Phillips, West Ham: Loan
- Nahuel Ferraresi, Sao Paulo: £4m
- Nahuel Bustos, Talleres: Free
- Zack Steffen, Colorado Rapids: Free
- Slobodan Tedic, FK Cukaricki: Free
- Claudio Echeverri, River Plate: Loan
- James McAtee, Sheffield United: Loan
- Tommy Doyle, Wolves: Loan
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Southampton: Loan
- Maximo Perrone, Las Palmas: Loan
- Joshua Wilson-Esbrand: Stade Reims and Cardiff City: Loan
- Issa Kabore, Luton Town: Loan
2024/25
TRANSFERS IN:
- Savinho, Troyes: £21m (rising to £33.6m)
- Ilkay Gundogan, Barcelona: Free
- Divin Mubama, West Ham: Free (£1.2m developmental fee)
Total spend: £22.2m
TRANSFERS OUT:
- Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid: £64.4m (rising to £81.5m)
- Joao Cancelo, Al-Hilal: £21m
- Taylor Harwood-Bellis: £20m
- Sergio Gomez, Real Sociedad: £8.4m
- Tommy Doyle, Wolves: £4.3m
- Yan Couto, Borussia Dortmund: Loan
- Kalvin Phillips, Ipswich Town: Loan
- Maximo Perrone, Como: Loan
- Issa Kabore, Benfica: Loan
- Lewis Fiorini, Stockport County: Undisclosed
- Liam Delap, Ipswich town: £20m
- Alex Robertson, Cardiff City: £1m
- Micah Hamilton, Middlesbrough: £2m (rising to £5m)
- Ben Knight, Real Murcia: Undisclosed
- Joao Cancelo, Al-Hilal: £21m
- Daio Sarmiento, Tigres: Undisclosed
- George Murray-Jones, Nottingham Forest: £1.1m
- Callum Doyle, Norwich City: Loan
- Finley Burns, Hull City: Loan
- Luke Mbete, Northampton Town: Loan
- Kian Breckin, Crewe Alexandria: Loan
- Kayky, Sparta Rotterdam: Loan
- True Grant, Buxton: Loan
- Tomas Galvez, LASK: Loan
- Jadel Katongo, Peterborough United: Loan
- Jamal Baptiste: Released
- Josh Adam, Wrexham: Free
