Every notable Manchester City signing of the 115 charges era
Manchester City have been found guilty of financial breaches between 2009 and 2018: here's everyone they signed in that time period
When you links on our site, we may .
Manchester City have been found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League rules.
The Premier League accused Man City in their statement of arranging “‘Sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners,” which helped “inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs”.
This, naturally, means that the six-time Prem champions were able to sign players that they wouldn't have otherwise been able to sign – so let's go through them all…
Let's start off modestly.
Former Arsenal back-up keeper Stuart Taylor became the Scott Carson of his day, joining City on a free transfer and making just a single appearance in three years before chucking in life on the Etihad bench for Reading's.
A signal of intent from City at the time, as England regular Gareth Barry was snared in midfield from Aston Villa, who had developed him from a teenager.
Barry spent five years in the Sky Blues engine room, winning the league and the FA Cup, en route to breaking the Premier League's all-time appearance record.
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Who else misses when City used to sign Barclaysmen?
Former Bayern and Blackburn bagsman Santa Cruz played just 20 times in the league after swapping Ewood for Eastlands – even going back on loan to Rovers in 2011, before two more loan spells in Spain.
The biggest signing in the Premier League during the 2009 summer transfer window, and a major one in City's history.
A year after work-shy Robinho joined in a dramatic statement of intent, City upgraded on him with a ferocious forward who typified the drive and hunger they'd need to oust Manchester United from the top of the tree: signing him from down the road was a mere bonus.
City later had to apologise for the Argentine holding up a banner depicting Sir Alex Ferguson's tombstone. The rivalry was well and truly alive.
While cash-strapped Arsenal made Thomas Vermaelen their only major signing of the summer – on top of re-signing a creaking Sol Campbell on a free – City helped themselves to their better players.
Emmanuel Adebayor came first: yes, we all remember what happened next.
Kolo Toure was one of few older heads at the Emirates Stadium and one of the last Invincibles of the side: he asked to leave after a bust-up with William Gallas.
The Gunners were thankful for the money, needing to pay off costs for their new ground.
Another former Gunner to boot, Sylvinho added experience at full-back, having won major titles at Barcelona.
A major asquisition at the time, Joleon Lescott was seen as a successor to the Terry/Ferdinand axis for England – so just as with signing Barry, it felt like City would have a spine in the national team.
Lescott had five relatively fruitful years at the Etihad, even if Vincent Kompany was always the better of the two in defence, making this signing a success.
An early indicator that City were prepared to bring in future talent.
Loris Karius was never deemed good enough for City, but certainly deemed Liverpool level later down the line, even if it didn't work out.
Seriously, how many former Arsenal players do you want?
The signing of Patrick Vieira marked an interesting development for City: not only were they prepared to buy the best up-and-comers and world stars of the time, but were investing in future managers, with the World Cup winner taking on a youth development role with City's Elite Development Squad, before becoming manager of New York City FC in 2016, another City Football Group club.
Another example of City looking to tie up the next generation of Three Lions stars, Adam Johnson was 22 when he made the switch to City, though he never really reached the next level that he was expected to while in Manchester.
A Sunderland move followed, before he was arrested for child grooming and sexual activity with a minor, before being sentenced to six years in prison.
Following the Kompany playbook of signing a highly-rated Hamburg centre-back, City spent £10m on Jerome Boateng.
Boateng was fine at City, but as usually happens when you sign top Germans, Bayern Munich swooped in.
One of two truly transformational signings of that summer – and the biggest of the summer in England, once again.
City were bullying the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa to sign their better players – but Yaya Toure signing from Barcelona was the first real proof that City could throw their weight around on the European stage. It was money well spent, too.
The Ivorian became a legend in the legend, was the driving force behind that first trophy (the FA Cup in 2011) and scored 20 league goals in City's second Premier League title win.
David Silva was a huge success, too – but perhaps proved exactly what kind of team the City Football Group were building.
The Spaniard was silkier than most previous buys, with a feel for the control of a game and the ability to keep possession for Citizens. He would come to define Pep Guardiola's style when the Catalan was a mere pipe dream for fans.
A major full-back buy from Serie A to bolster the backline, Kolarov was a sign of changing times: City were buying Wayne Bridges anymore.
Nearly 250 appearances across seven years made this transfer a sure success.
One of the brightest young talents in Italian football – and one that perhaps made neutrals root for City like never before.
Balotelli had the personality at a time when social media was just finding its feet: he only scored 30 times in 80 appearances for the club but did he help put them on the map?
Another stalwart England star who would break the Prem appearance record (and play in just about every appearance along the way).
City didn't make anything on Milner's exit to Liverpool, as the utility man went on a free.
Chelsea spent big on Fernando Torres, Liverpool on Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez… and City bought Edin Dzeko.
One of the more underrated Premier League strikers of his era, he managed almost a goal every other game while competing with several big names, returning 19, 15 and 26 goals in his first three seasons in English football.
Yet another Arsenal player joining, Clichy competed with Kolarov at left-back, giving City depth and experience in defence en route to their first title.
Again, Arsenal simply couldn't refuse the offer, finishing a distant 19 points behind the Citizens.
Serious bite at the back, Savic was only at City for a single season and is perhaps better remembered by some Mancunians as the Atletico Madrid player that Jack Grealish called a c*** in 2022.
The Montenegro international provided cover 12 times in the title run.
Once again, the most expensive player in a Premier League transfer window – and one that would send City's fortunes soaring in one direction.
Sergio Aguero delivered the title in his first season, broke the club's all-time scoring record and became the face of a generation for the Etihad faithful. He surely ranks in the top five signings of the Abu Dhabi era.
Arsenal plundered once more, as City little-bro'd the Gunners a couple of weeks after Barcelona had nabbed their captain, Cesc Fabregas.
Proof that City were operating in a different stratosphere, as they took a proven Premier League difference-maker at a time where Arsenal were repeating their formula of bringing in little-known Ligue 1 talent to develop. Gervinho didn't have the same effect.
Just the one appearance after swapping the red half of Manchester for blue, but perhaps City were priming themselves for another Vieira-type signing.
Hargreaves' body was letting him down by 2011 but as one of the most intelligent English midfielders of a generation, perhaps he was signed with an eye to becoming a coach one day. If so, he unfortunately chose punditry instead.
An early sign that City were priming themselves for Guardiola, as silky Spaniard Denis Suarez joined the academy – but was a little too lightweight for English football.
He went to Barcelona B after failing to make a league appearance for City.
One of the first of City's nepo babies, preceding Jaden and Reigan Heskey, Floyd Samba, Devant Cole and… well, Erling Haaland.
City banked on Bryan Gunn's boy being a chip off the old block – and he's had a very successful career over the years. Just perhaps not Manchester City level.
City really have tried to find a top goalkeeper early, haven't they?
6ft 8in Pantilimon was another familiar Premier League face – but only after leaving City's bench for a role at Sunderland.
Snapping up the next generation of England's team began to run a little drier with the signing of Jack Rodwell, who never kicked on to assume a Lampardian role for his country.
16 league appearances in two years followed before an infamous Sunderland spell.
Another older head that City perhaps had plans for coaching: Richard Wright didn't make an appearance in four seasons, but is still a goalkeeping coach at the club.
Yet another former Arsenal player, by the way.
Another highly-rated young British talent who never quite reached City levels.
Sinclair played 15 times in his first at the Etihad, scored none and went on loan – before leaving for Villa permanently three years later.
Gareth Bale's tormentor was 31 by the time he signed for City – but he was only ever signed as cover.
The Brazilian played nine times as City failed to retain the title, before heading to Roma.
Considered the next Nemanja Vidic to some, but it wasn't to be.
Natasaix was a squad player at best in his two seasons in England, never really threatening to become a first choice – but he did pick up a Premier League medal for his troubles in 2014.
One-time Real Madrid talent and confirmation of City wanting to control possession a bit more – even if he never really made it in England.
Good money was spent on Garcia, though it was almost all recouped when he left for Zenit Saint Petersburg.
A major acquisition in the history of City, Fernandinho was the destroyer in midfield that anchored the Centurions, allowing others to flourish ahead of him.
While rivals were shelling this kind of money for playmakers, it was intriguing for City to be doing the same for someone to protect the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva going forward – and the Brazilian ended up being a masterstroke of a buy, eventually captaining the club.
Either side of two Sevilla spells, Jesus Navas had an absolutely fine four years in Manchester, providing reliability up and down the right flank.
The introduction of Pep in 2016 somewhat changed his landscape, with the new boss wanting a little bit more than a linesman-like full-back – otherwise, he could've perhaps played a little longer in England.
Manchester United signed Robin van Persie in 2012 to win the title – and he fulfilled the brief. So naturally, City signed two £20m+ centre-forwards to close the gap of 20 goals between the two Manchester clubs.
Negredo managed 23 goals in his sole season – though 14 of those came in the cups and Europe. They all count, mind.
The other big-money striker of 2013, and the one who didn't do as well.
Jovetic scored just six times but did win the League Cup with City in his first season, bettering his league tally in his second term, and going out to Inter Milan on loan.
A runner-up with Argentina at the World Cup, Demichelis provided additional centre-back coverage en route to the title.
He spent three years as a fringe defender in Manchester.
Another former Arsenal defender, Sagna was one of the best full-backs in the league but didn't want to extend his deal in N5.
He'd form a partnership with former team-mate Clichy on the opposite side.
Fernando was a regular in midfield, without threatening to disrupt the status quo.
The Brazilian only picked up the League Cup in English football and was shipped out after three years.
Another older goalkeeper who became a coach at City, Willy Caballero only played 23 times for City in the Premier League but nudged Claudio Bravo from between the sticks to signal the Chilean as a failed experiment.
He's also remembered as a Chelsea back-up (and the guy that Maurizio Sarri wanted to bring on in place of Kepa Arrizabalaga in the League Cup final).
The second-most expensive signing in the Premier League that summer (Manchester United panicked and dropped a bomb on Angel Di Maria).
Mangala lasted four years at the club and enjoyed the first title under Guardiola, but as the fourth-choice centre-back: all in all, an irredeemable signing.
Do you remember how controversial this was at the time?
When Chelsea waved goodbye to Frank Lampard, they assumed he was heading to New York City and they'd never see him again… until he rocked up on loan at the Etihad, thanks to the two clubs having an affiliation.
At least he didn't celebrate when he inevitably rescued a point against the Blues.
One of those rare Manchester United-type buys from City.
The Citizens were well off the pace in the league, with Chelsea leading the title race – so the Sky Blues reacting by paying huge money for a midtable hitman to bolster their attack. Bony scored just six times in the league before heading to Stoke on loan.
The first transfer that really felt like priming the club for Guardiola's arrival.
A club-record buy at the time (and an English record), Sterling had caught the brunt of Liverpool fans' ire following their failure to go again after losing the title – and when he angled for a big move, he got his wish.
He'd become a defining player of City's new era.
“I'm not leaving,” Aston Villa's Fabian Delph said when rumours emerged that he was having a medical at Manchester City. “I'm staying at the football club and I can't wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
Anyway, Delph left for City, never really established himself in midfield but became a decent left-back option in time under Pep, while Villa got relegated.
One of the brightest young talents in the country, plenty was expected of Fulham's Patrick Roberts – and a big move like this was seen as the logical next step in his career.
Roberts went on six separate loans in seven seasons – where he only scored more than one league goal in a season once, in Scotland – before leaving with just a single Premier League game at City under his belt.
Nicolas Otamendi was yet another big-money buy – and he only came good once Guardiola arrived.
The Argentina international looked particularly rash before Pep asserted his dominance in the league and stopped putting Otamendi in positions to lunge in.
Kevin De Bruyne's signing was yet another that smashed the transfer record for City – it was England's most expensive deal of the summer – with the Belgian genius opting for a smaller-profile club in Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich (did the Catalan put a phone call in? Fernandinho reckoned so…).
14 major trophies, 108 goals and dozens of assists later, he might just be the most influential footballer in City's entire history. Worth the staggering fee, and then some.
Yet another technically gifted Spaniard, as the club awaited the arrival in the dugout of formerly technically gifted Spaniard.
Garcia went on loan to Girona and was later signed before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
