Manchester City reportedly close to Rayan Aït-Nouri signing
A new left back for Manchester City?
Manchester City are close to finalising a £31m deal for Wolves left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, with the Algeria international expected to undergo a medical.
Author | Macca
The transfer, which includes £5m in add-ons, is nearing completion as City seek to address a long-standing issue on the left side of defence.
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The club are working to complete the signing before 10 June, the deadline for Aït-Nouri to be eligible for the Club World Cup group stage. The 24-year-old has emerged as a priority target for Pep Guardiola, who has been without a natural left-back since August 2021.
In the interim, a number of players have been deployed in the role, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joao Cancelo and Josko Gvardiol. Most recently, academy graduate Nico O’Reilly filled in during the latter stages of last season, including the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
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Aït-Nouri joined Wolves permanently from Angers in 2021 after a successful loan spell, and featured 41 times last season, contributing five goals and seven assists as Gary O’Neil’s side avoided the drop.
His move to City will mark Wolves’ second major sale of the summer, with Matheus Cunha poised to join Manchester United. City have also agreed a £46.3m deal for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, continuing a heavy investment strategy that saw them spend £200m in January.
What are Manchester City potentially signing?
Rayan Aït-Nouri recorded more goal involvements than any other Premier League defender last season, highlighting his attacking threat from the back.
The Wolves full-back was involved in 11 goals, a clear indicator of his influence in the final third. Only Leif Davis, Pedro Porro and Trent Alexander-Arnold created more chances, with Aït-Nouri providing 46 opportunities for team-mates over the course of the campaign.
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He also stood out for his dribbling, completing 63 successful take-ons, second only to Aaron Wan-Bissaka among defenders.
His close control and speed on the ball are qualities that fit the profile of players Guardiola has often favoured in wide roles. Aït-Nouri has also shown strong defensive instincts and a sharp ability to cut out danger early.
By the end of the 2024–25 season, he had won possession in the final third more times than any other Premier League defender, with Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz narrowly behind.
