Man City’s signings see De Bruyne second and Haaland eighth

Inside the Etihad’s trophy‑laden hallway, a fresh display of ten framed jerseys marks the launch of Manchester City’s new ranking of their Premier League signings, placing Kevin De Bruyne second and Erling Haaland eighth, while recalling the Abu Dhabi United Group’s September 2008 takeover that sparked an era of unprecedented success.

Takeover and Guardiola’s trophy haul

The Abu Dhabi United Group completed its takeover of Manchester City in September 2008, injecting vast resources into the club. Pep Guardiola, the Catalan mastermind, arrived a year later and steered City through a glittering ten‑year spell. Under his guidance the club captured six Premier League titles, its first Champions League crown, three FA Cups and five League Cups, among other honours.

Record‑breaking signings

City’s transfer record was rewritten when Kyle Walker arrived from Tottenham Hotspur for £50 million, a world‑record fee for a defender at the time. Two years later, in June 2022, the club secured Erling Haaland for £51 million, a deal now hailed as an absolute steal. Earlier, Bernardo Silva was bought from Valencia for £24 million in July 2010, a fee that proved modest compared with his later impact.

Midfield maestros

Rodri emerged as the premier No 6 in world football, linking defence and midfield with metronomic precision and scoring the decisive winner against Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final. Bernardo Silva’s brilliance was rewarded with the Ballon d’Or in 2024 after losing just one game all season for club and country. Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, secured the second spot in the new ranking, underscoring his enduring influence.

Erling Haaland has rewritten England’s scoring records since his arrival, turning the club’s attack into a relentless machine. Critics once doubted whether Guardiola could harness a centre‑forward of his calibre, yet the Norwegian proved the missing piece that helped City finally lift the Champions League.

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Ilkay Gundogan was Guardiola’s first signing and quickly became a big‑game specialist. He netted a dramatic brace on the final day of the 2021‑22 season to clinch the title, later captaining the side and scoring two spectacular volleys in the 2023 FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Yaya Toure flourished after Roberto Mancini repositioned him further forward, becoming the catalyst for City’s first major trophy in 2011. He scored the winner in both the FA Cup semi‑final and final, and two seasons later recorded 20 goals in 35 league appearances, including memorable strikes against Aston Villa and Sunderland.

Vincent Kompany arrived in August 2008 and spent eleven years anchoring the defence, laying the foundation for successive managers. His haul includes eleven trophies, three Premier League Team of the Season selections and the Premier League Player of the Season award for 2011‑12, highlighted by a thunderous screamer against Leicester that remains iconic.

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The 2017‑18 campaign saw City become the first Premier League side to reach 100 points, a benchmark of dominance. In 2022‑23 the club completed a historic treble – Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – becoming only the second English team to do so, and then set a new record with a fourth consecutive league title the following season.

The ranking illustrates how strategic signings, backed by the Abu Dhabi United Group’s investment and Guardiola’s vision, have transformed Manchester City into a modern football powerhouse, with each listed player leaving an indelible mark on the club’s trophy‑laden era.