Rayan Cherki is a Manchester City player. Having been rumoured to be close to the ten-time English champions for several days now, the newly-capped French international finally officially joined the Skyblues this tuesday. The versatile attacking midfielder has signed a five-year deal with the Manchester club. In doing so, he’ll be eligible to play in the Club World Cup with Cityzen.
An operation which, according to L’Équipe, should bring in €40.5m (£34.1m, $46.2m), bonuses excluded, for Olympique Lyonnais, his formative club with whom he made his professional debut in 2019, aged just 16. A 15% percentage in the event of future transfer and the loan of a Manchester City player for the 2025-26 season were also reportedly negotiated by Lyon.
Cherki had a strong 2024-25 season, being decisive on 32 occasions (12 goals and 20 assists) in 44 appearances in all competitions. Such remarkable statistics despite OL’s mixed season. At just 21 years of age (he was born on August 17, 2003), Cherki already boasts almost 200 professional matches, including 146 in Ligue 1 and 18 in European cups (Champions League and Europa League).
A silver medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Cherki has been capped 28 times with the French Espoirs team. On his first cap for the first team on 5 June 2025, he shone against Spain, scoring a goal and providing an assist, despite Les Bleus’ 5-4 defeat in the Nations League semi-final.
“This is a dream for me,” Cherki said. “Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special.
“I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can’t wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep and his backroom staff.”
