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- 37 minutes ago
Man City AGREE Cherki transfer: Guardiola signs one of world’s most EXCITING players
Ronan Murphy
- Updated: 9 Jun 2025 13:10 BST
- 5 min read
News
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lyon over the transfer of France international playmaker Rayan Cherki.
Cherki has already agreed personal terms with Pep Guardiola’s side, who turned their attentions to the 21-year-old when it became apparent they were being outpriced in the chase for Florian Wirtz.
The Lyon star, who can also play as a winger, will sign a five-year contract with Man City, L’Equipe reports, with the deal expected to be completed in time for the forward to compete in the Club World Cup.
Current ETV
R. Cherki
M (CR), AM (C)
Lyon
R. Cherki
M (CR), AM (C)
Lyon
ETV Range
€35.5M - €43.4M
According to FootMercato, Guardiola’s outfit have agreed to pay €40 million for the flair-packed player, plus there will be bonuses in the package and a percentage of the resale of the player.
A medical still needs to be conducted before Cherki’s move can be made official.
Rayan Cherki to Man City: The expert opinion
Leading Ligue 1 expert Robin Bairner has told FootballTransfers that Man City have signed one of the most thrilling players on the planet.
“Cherki is a wizard with the ball when given the freedom to create, and even in a comparatively average Lyon side this season he put up some incredible offensive numbers.
“Consistency has been something that he has previously lacked in his career, which should not be too much of a surprise given that he’s still only 21, yet over the course of the last season he’s really started to click in this regard.
“He’s one of a number of exciting young French players, which also includes PSG star Desire Doue, that is shaking up the monotony of the modern game with his imagination.
“Harnessed properly, City have got themselves one of the most thrilling young players on the planet and €40m could look like a bargain.”
One of Europe’s most wanted
Cherki, who had one year left to run on his Lyon contract, has been a coveted player this summer due to his affordable price.
He gave a taste of what Man City fans can hope for him with a blistering international debut against Spain last week, in which he scored one and created another despite playing just a few minutes off the bench.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are among the clubs who have taken an interest in him following the most consistent campaign of his career at Lyon. He scored eight goals and created 11 more across 30 appearances for the Rhone club in Ligue 1 as they won a place in the Europa League next season.
There was never any prospect of Lyon retaining the winger given the club’s financial problems, and they will feel they have negotiated a good price for the player in these circumstances. Indeed, Man City will pay almost exactly Cherki’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €39.5m to get the deal over the line.
Previously, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Tijjani Reijnders has signed his contract to become Man City’s first summer signing. Wolves’ Rayan Ait Nouri is expected to follow in the next hours.
And Cherki will not be too far behind, with a deal required by Tuesday 19:00 BST for him to feature at the Club World Cup.
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