Manchester City set for first signing of the summer as Rayan Aït-Nouri completes medical

  1. Home
  2. Sport
Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City medical done

Manchester City look to have finally signed an out-and-out left-back as Rayan Aït-Nouri is said to have completed his medical ahead of a move to the Etihad Stadium.

The French-born defender is expected to join Man City on a five-year deal worth a reported £31 million, including add-on fees of approximately £5m, becoming the first new signing ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

City spent significantly in the January window after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak argued they weren’t aggressive enough last summer, and they look to continue rebuilding the squad following several key departures, not least of all Kevin De Bruyne.

Although the transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the club, multiple outlets have now covered the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back being bound for the blue half of Manchester.

Having come through the youth system at Angers FC in Ligue 1, the versatile fullback was loaned to Wolves back in 2021 before being signed permanently later that same year.

The 24-year-old has made more than 150 appearances in ‘Old Gold’ since then, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, and has played for Algeria eight times after declaring allegiance back in 2022, despite having already represented ‘Les Bleus’.

More precisely, it’s the dynamism of Aït-Nouri that has seen him shortlisted by several clubs of late, with Pep Guardiola regularly deploying his fullbacks as utility players in his ever-fluid system.

Even in an often faltering Wolves side, he contributed to more goal involvements than any other defender in the league during 2024/25; created the fourth-most chances from a player in the backline, the second-most dribbles and won back possession in the final third more than any other defender.

Nevertheless, he still looks set to be one of the most orthodox left-backs City have signed in years – with the club having struggled for strength in depth in that area for some time – using the likes of Joško Gvardiol (the best fit), Nico O’Reilly and Nathan Aké in that position most recently.

Quick, confident on the ball and strong in the tackle, he’s tailor-made for bombing down the flanks and creating plenty of those trademark cut-back finishes for Pep’s attackers. While they already have plenty of options going forward, Khaldoon has insisted there will be “several” more signings all over the pitch.

Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Where else would you like to see improvements?

Aït-Nouri is expected to pen his City contract on Sunday, 8 June, meaning he will most likely be the first of a quickfire trio of new signings in the first half of June, with two other deals also believed to be close to being done.

In addition to long-admired target Tijjani Reijnders reportedly also undergoing his medical this weekend, another Rayan and fellow French-Algerian in Lyon’s Cherki, who is thought to be making a £30m move to play under the Catalan coach.

On the other hand, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see all three players unveiled in a single day, similar to what we saw just a few months ago.

What do you make of the business, Blues?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Æthelred (via Wikimedia Commons)/Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)