Manchester City are finally closing in on signing a first-team ready left-back for the first time in eight years, with Rayan Ait-Nouri expected to complete a move to the Etihad Stadium.
The last time City secured such a signing in this position, Ait-Nouri was a teenager just starting out at Angers. While Benjamin Mendy had joined City for £52 million back in 2017, Ait-Nouri was beginning his career after moving from Paris FC for a symbolic fee of €5,000.
Although his development hasn’t followed a perfectly smooth path, Ait-Nouri is now set for a major step up in his career. Once at City, he will not only be tasked with replicating his standout performances from Wolves but also potentially solving a long-term issue for Pep Guardiola.
Since Mendy’s last appearance in 2021, City have tried several players at left-back with mixed success. Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Angelino, and Sergio Gomez have all featured, while Josko Gvardiol has done an admirable job despite being more natural in central defence.
City nearly brought in Marc Cucurella in 2022 but backed out due to Chelsea’s huge bid. Ait-Nouri was also considered then, and now, at a reported £33.7 million, the deal looks like a smart investment.
At Wolves, the Algerian international has thrived as an attacking wing-back. He scored four goals and assisted seven times last season – numbers that align closely with Gvardiol’s five goals but bring an added creative edge. His width and forward presence on the left will enhance City’s attacking play.
More significantly, Ait-Nouri’s arrival will allow Gvardiol to play centrally. His partnership with Ruben Dias is promising, with Dias providing defensive solidity and Gvardiol contributing composure and ball progression. That combination could become one of the best in the Premier League.
With the FIFA Club World Cup approaching – featuring 32 top clubs including City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG, and Bayern Munich – the potential for this defensive unit to flourish on the global stage is exciting.
City’s long pursuit of a dependable left-back appears close to ending. If Ait-Nouri lives up to expectations, the club’s patience may have paid off in full.
