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Rating Manchester City’s summer transfer window business

By James Fudge

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Stefan Ortega, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez of Manchester City are seen on stage with their squad numbers during the Manchester City Summer Signing Presentation Event at Etihad Stadium on July 10, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Stefan Ortega, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez of Manchester City are seen on stage with their squad numbers during the Manchester City Summer Signing Presentation Event at Etihad Stadium on July 10, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 31: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on August 31, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 31: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on August 31, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Luke Mbete — Huddersfield, loan, Juan Larios — Southampton, undisclosed, Sam Edozie — Southampton, undisclosed, Liam Delap — Stoke, loan, James McAtee — Sheffield United, loan, Oleksandr Zinchenko — Arsenal, £30million, Zack Steffen — Middlesbrough, loan, Raheem Sterling — Chelsea, £47.5million, Romeo Lavia — Southampton, £12million, Darko Gyabi — Leeds United, £5million, Gabriel Jesus — Arsenal, £45million, Gavin Bazunu — Southampton, £12million, Fernandinho — released, CJ Egan-Riley — Burnley, free, Taylor Harwood-Bellis — Burnley, loan, Tommy Doyle — Sheffield United, loan

When you have one of the best squads available, teams will try their luck and poach your superstars. It was inevitable that several players wanted fresh challenges if they are not the first name on the teamsheet, so we said goodbye to some of our favourites.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta poached two of them – Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko – and have made them into a formidable side, winning the first five games. Two good fees for players that were not regularly starters under Pep, especially GJ, following the Halaand and Alvarez signings.

The one that provided mixed feelings was Raheem Sterling. A year left on his contract and unwilling to sign an extension, Sterling went to Chelsea for a £47.5million fee. Many appreciated his commitment and the majority were glad to see the back of him, especially after his interview following the move.

The English international was never a favourite among fans, largely due to his indifferent performances and missed chances in big games. A welcomed fee and a good bit of business, you have to say.

A large amount of that profit is credited to Southampton. The south-coast club has poached some of the best talents in the academy, with buy-back clauses for all four.

Those sales, along with over £30m of sales from the academy and more fees from sales of City Football Group players, mean that the Blues have managed an impressive £60m profit this summer.

Many loans will hopefully develop our youngsters with the Championship proving a league that will toughen them ready for the step up.

Probably, the best news regarding the summer is Bernardo Silva. He flirted with Barcelona and Barcelona courted him, however in an unprecedented romance story, the current boyfriend came up trumps and Bernardo stays with Manchester City.

The Portuguese playmaker is undeniably irreplaceable when he’s on form, so it was welcome news to Cityzens.

No other rumours gained enough traction to worry the fan base, and with the profit, all in all, a good set of departures.