Man City’s 10 Most Expensive Signings Under Pep Guardiola

The Spaniard has spent an extraordinary amount of money on new talent.

Man City are never afraid to turn to the transfer market for their next superstar. / David Ramos/Getty Images, Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside/Getty Images, Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images

Pep Guardiola’s historic success at Manchester City does not come without splashing a staggering amount of cash on superstar signings—all of which have now cost over €2 billion.

When the Spaniard took charge of the Cityzens ahead of the 2016–17 season, the club could only dream of the silverware that followed in the next decade. Under Guardiola’s leadership, Man City have lifted 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and their first-ever Champions League title.

Such triumphs require not only a tactician on the touchline, but also superstars in every position on the pitch. Building a championship-winning squad does not come cheap, though, and City have shelled out billions to keep a steady wave of talent at the Etihad. Most recently, the club won the bidding war for former Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.

The €72 million deal for the 26-year-old is one of Man City’s most expensive transfers of the Guardiola era—the top ten acquisitions make for some reading.

FREE NEWSLETTER. New SI FC Newsletter Global Embed. Sign Up to Get Informed With SI FC. dark

---

Pep Guardiola’s Most Expensive Singings at Man City

Jack Grealish is Pep Guardiola’s most expensive transfer at Man City. / Francois Nel/UEFA/Getty Images

A vast number of players have signed for Guardiola before and after Jack Grealish, but no player has cost as much as the England international did when he moved from Aston Villa for a fee of €117.5 million. Sure, the winger helped City win seven trophies, but scoring just 17 goals in 157 appearances does not justify such a jaw-dropping price tag.

Joško Gvardiol arrived in Manchester two years later for €90 million, becoming Guardiola’s second most expensive transfer. The versatile defender has been somewhat of an unsung hero at the Etihad, one whose defensive efforts and quality going forward make him a perfect fit for the Cityzens’ style of play.

Omar Marmoush ranks third on the list. The club paid Frankfurt €75 million for the forward in 2024–25, a price just €1 million less than what club legend Kevin De Bruyne cost nine years prior. The Egyptian came to Manchester with plenty of hype, but competing with Erling Haaland for minutes is no easy task—Antoine Semenyo comes in just behind him at €72 million.

Rodri won the Ballon d’Or in 2024. / Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images

Next up are Rúben Dias and Rodri, who joined the Cityzens in moves of similar stature; the former Benfica defender cost €71.6 million, while Guardiola’s midfield anchor fetched €70 million. When healthy, both players have a permanent place in the Spaniard’s XI. Rodri, especially, will life in infamy for his Champions League-winning goal against Inter, as well as his 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

The success of both transfers contributed to City’s run of dominance in the Premier League, helping the club win six league titles in a row. Along for some of the ride was Riyad Mahrez, who joined from Leicester City in a deal worth €67.8 million. The forward produced plenty moments of magic in a sky blue shirt, his flare on the right wing a staple of Guardiola’s early years on the touchline.

Close behind are João Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte. The defenders each cost Guardiola €65 million, and for good reason. Cancelo redefined the inverted fullback role with his versatility and playmaking, while Laporte’s dominance in the air and composure at the back led City to 13 major trophies.

Rounding out the 10 top is Matheus Nunes. The club invested €62 million for the midfielder-turned-fullback, who perhaps unexpectedly became the successor to the great Kyle Walker. It hasn’t always been a smooth ride for the Portugal international at the Etihad, but he is slowly gaining the trust of Guardiola.

Rank	Player	From, Year	Fee
1	Jack Grealish	Aston Villa, 2021	€117.5 million
2	Joško Gvardiol	RB Leipzig, 2023	€90 million
3	Omar Marmoush	Frankfurt, 2024	€75 million
4	Antoine Semenyo	Bournemouth, 2026	€72 million
5	Rúben Dias	Benfica, 2020	€71.6 million
6	Rodri	Atlético Madrid, 2019	€70 million
7	Riyad Mahrez	Leicester City, 2018	€67.8 million
8	João Cancelo	Juventus, 2019	€65 million
9	Aymeric Laporte	Athletic Club, 2017	€65 million
10	Matheus Nunes	Wolves, 2023	€62 million

---

READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS AND MORE

feed