Free transfer reshapes Fenerbahçe defence as Aké leaves City

Nathan Aké, the 31‑year‑old Dutch defender, has completed a free transfer to Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe after his contract with Manchester City expired. He will report to the club’s pre‑season training camp in Austria in central Europe as the new season approaches.

Aké’s international duties ended early this week when the Netherlands were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco on penalties. The left‑footed defender started the match, was withdrawn after seventy minutes, and had also featured in the tournament against Japan and Tunisia.

Manchester City signed Aké from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020 for a reported €45 million fee. Over the following years he amassed 177 official appearances for the English club.

During his tenure under manager Pep Guardiola, Aké contributed to four league title triumphs. He also lifted the Champions League trophy with City in 2023.

City chose not to renew his contract this summer, making him available on a free transfer. Earlier in his career, Aké had also been under contract with Chelsea.

Fenerbahçe will integrate Aké into their squad during the Austrian camp, where he can adapt to the Turkish side’s defensive setup. His versatility as both left‑back and centre‑back offers the club additional options ahead of the upcoming season.