Manuel Akanji is one of Manchester City’s unsung heroes and best bargain buys in the Pep Guardiola era.
Not much fuss was made when Manchester City moved to bring in some defensive backup late in the transfer window of 2022, with the unassuming Manuel Akanji arriving for a steal of a price.
Yet, it didn’t take long for the versatile defender to force his way into the starting XI and move above the likes of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order.
Whether it’s centre-back or full-back, Akanji is a near-ever present in the City squad and puts in quietly superb displays week after week.
Here is everything you need to know about the underrated City star Akanji.
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How old is Manuel Akanji?
Manuel Obafemi Akanji was born on July 19, 1995, in Neftenbach, Switzerland. He has a sister, Sarah, who also played football and is now a politician.
As of August, 2024, he is 29 years old.
Manuel Akanji height and weight
Akanji stands at 6ft1′ (187cm) tall and weighs in at 91kg, according to TNT Sports.
Twitter/X and Instagram accounts
Akanji has an official Instagram account with 1.3 million followers and you can find him @manuelobafemiakanji. He often shares pictures of him in action and on holiday.
He does not appear to have an official X, formerly Twitter, account.
Who is Manuel Akanji’s wife?
Manuel Akanji met his partner Melanie Windler in 2016 and they tied the knot three years later. The couple have two children and are expecting a third in 2024.
How much did Man City spend on Akanji?
In the same summer City spent millions on Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips, they managed to sign Akanji for a relative pittance.
City paid just £15m for Akanji in what has turned out to be one of their smartest additions and an absolute bargain.
How much does Akanji earn? Wages and salary
Akanji earns a cool £180,000 a week and has been since joining the club in 2022. That means he brings home a yearly salary of £9.36m before tax.
Manuel Akanji stats
Man City stats
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 2022/23 | 48 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023/24 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024/25 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 126 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 1 |
Pre-Man City stats
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| Winterthur | 37 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| FC Basel | 58 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 158 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
International stats for Switzerland
| Caps | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 69 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
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Manuel Akanji trophies and honours
Man City trophies
- x2 Premier League titles – 2022/23, 2023/24
- x1 Champions League – 2022/23
- x1 FA Cup – 2022/23
- x1 UEFA Super Cup – 2024
- x1 Club World Cup – 2024
- x1 Community Shield – 2024
Borussia Dortmund trophies
- x1 German Cup – 2020/21
- x1 German Super Cup – 2019/20
FA Basel trophies
- x2 Swiss League Champion – 2015/16, 2016/17
- x1 Swiss Cup – 2016/17
Individual honours
- Swiss Super League Team of the Year – 2017–18
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament – 2024
Manuel Akanji maths
As well as being fantastic on the pitch, Akanji is a maths genius capable of working out complicated sums in seconds. All in his head.
Akanji’s talent first came to light when he went on Swiss TV in 2018 and showed off his impressive mental calculation skills.
