Just over a month after announcing a deal to sign the striker, Manchester City have finally announced Erling Haaland as a new player for the Premier League giants.
Joining in a deal worth a reported £51m, the 21-year-old attacker is one of the most exciting signings City have made in some time, with Haaland expected to take England by storm after dominating Austria and Germany and shattering many records along the way.
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As a boyhood City fan, Haaland joining the club he supported as a kid is somewhat poetic for the forward, with the youngster set to become one of the most followed players in the Premier League next season as many expect the forward to hit the ground running.
Indeed, Haaland could single-handily win City everything there is to win in the coming years, yet the striker is not the most expensive player the Manchester giants have signed in their recent history. Here are the top seven.
Jack Grealish – £100m
Manchester City’s wealth has been a key reason behind their success since 2008, and the arrival of Jack Grealish last summer for a British record £100m will take some beating in the coming years.
The 20-cap England international has been one of the most entertaining players to watch in the Premier League over the years, and whilst Grealish didn’t set the world alight last season, the former Aston Villa captain is likely to flourish in his second year with City.
Ruben Dias – £65m
After Liverpool spent £75m on Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City somewhat replicated the success the Dutchman brought to Anfield by signing Ruben Dias from Benfica for an astronomical £65m, and what a signing the Portuguese defender has been.
Dias was named the Premier League Player of the Year in his first season in England, and the defender was again crucial last campaign as City retained their title with Liverpool so close to beating the Manchester side to the top prize.
Riyad Mahrez – £60m
Riyad Mahrez joining Manchester City appeared to be a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ following the Algerian’s breakout year with Leicester City, and since signing for the Etihad side, the winger has been phenomenal.
The attacker was City’s top goalscorer last season and has proved himself to be the ultimate big-game player, with Mahrez scoring some huge goals in massive fixtures that has helped Guardiola make history with the Manchester giants.
Joao Cancelo – £60m
Manchester City spending more on their defence than some countries do on their own militaries is no joke, and the meme entered another realm when the Premier League side signed Joao Cancelo from Juventus.
With Danilo heading in the other direction, City have been huge winners from this deal as Cancelo has established himself as one of the best fullbacks in all of Europe, with the defender recently named in the PFA Team of the Season at left-back, an impressive feat for a natural right-back.
Aymeric Laporte – £57m
The last defender on this list, Aymeric Laporte signed for Manchester City just one month after the club missed out on Van Dijk, though whilst the former Southampton star has been world-class for Liverpool, so too has the Spanish international for Guardiola.
The former Athletic Bilbao titan has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League since arriving in 2018, and alongside Dias last season, Laporte established an incredible centre-back pairing with the Portuguese star that was key to City reclaiming the English top-flight title.
Kevin De Bruyne – £55m
If there was ever a big-money signing Manchester City have made in recent years that has proven to be a bargain, Kevin De Bruyne would be that player, with the Belgian star arguably one of the best midfielders to ever play in the Premier League.
From equalling Thierry Henry’s assist record in a single season to winning the PFA Player of the Season award in back-to-back years, De Bruyne will go down as a legend at City and as one of the finest players to ever grace England in the 21st Century.
Erling Haaland – £51m
The man of the hour and a striker who could finally take Manchester City to Champions League glory, Haaland is arguably the most exciting player Pep Guardiola has signed during his tenure in England.
Blessed with pace, height and strength, Haaland is what many would consider the perfect striker, with the Norwegian’s finishing one of the best in Europe, and at £51m, the forward could be a bargain for City.
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