✍️ Officially Done: Manchester City & Lyon Sign Papers for Rayan Cherki deal

 

✍️ Officially Done: Manchester City & Lyon Sign Papers for Rayan Cherki deal

 

Multiple reliable sources confirm that Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais have completed all paperwork to finalize the Rayan Cherki transfer. One social media post states: “All documents are now SIGNED between ManCity and Lyon for Rayan Cherki! ✓✍️ Fee: €36 M fixed + €6 M add‑ons + 15% sell‑on clause” .

French-language reports echo this, noting a five-year contract until 2030 after a fee of roughly €36–42 million including add-ons .

 

 

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💰 Transfer Details & Financial Breakdown

 

Here’s what we know about the transfer:

 

Component Details

 

Fixed Fee €35–36 million (~£30–34 million)

Add‑Ons €5–6 million potential bonuses

Sell‑On Clause 15% for Lyon

Contract Five years – until June 2030

 

 

The spend is part of a high-profile Club World Cup transfer window, where City have already invested around £112–115 million in three signings (Cherki, Aït‑Nouri, Reijnders + Bettinelli) .

 

 

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🌟 Player Profile: Rayan Cherki

 

Age/Role: 21-year-old French playmaker – attacking midfielder/winger (capable of both positions) .

 

Lyon Legacy: Product of Lyon’s academy since age 7; made senior debut at 16; nearly 200 appearances across all competitions .

 

2024–25 Season: Standout form with 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 matches; Named Ligue 1’s top dribbler and assist provider; featured in UNFP Team of the Year .

 

International Breakthrough: Debuted for France in June 2025 UEFA Nations League; scored and assisted in a 5–4 defeat to Spain, then started in a 2–0 win over Germany .

 

 

 

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🔄 Strategic Fit for City

 

Post–De Bruyne Era: Cherki is seen by many as a successor to Kevin De Bruyne’s creativity. Pep Guardiola and City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, emphasized his “skill and creativity” and readiness for elite football .

 

Tactical Flexibility: Two-footed, a dynamic dribbler capable of playing centrally or wide. Premier League legend Thierry Henry praised his dribbling: “never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him” .

 

Immediate Impact: Eligible to play in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., starting June 18—it’s a key test ahead of the Premier League and Champions League campaign .

 

 

 

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🔁 The Deal in the Context of City’s Transfers

 

This transfer is part of a bold summer move:

 

Rayan Aït‑Nouri (LB from Wolves) – ~£31 million

 

Tijjani Reijnders (CM from AC Milan) – ~£46 million

 

Marcus Bettinelli (GK backup from Chelsea) – nominal undisclosed fee

 

 

All three registered before the Club World Cup deadline . Despite missing out on the big-name target Florian Wirtz—whose €127 million fee was too steep—the club wisely distributed funds across multiple positions .

 

 

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👑 What This Means for Lyon and Cherki

 

Lyon’s Gain: €36 million up‑front. With a 15% sell-on, Lyon could reap even more if City later profits on Cherki’s future move .

 

Selling Strategy: Lyon’s owner John Textor had previously blocked Cherki’s sale to PSG or Dortmund for around €20–22.5 million; City’s higher bid allowed him to leave .

 

For Cherki: It’s the realization of a dream. He said: “This is a dream for me…to join a club like Manchester City…something very, very special” .

 

 

 

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🔭 Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

 

1. Debut: Cherki is expected to feature in the Club World Cup, starting June 18 (City vs. Wydad AC in Philadelphia) .

 

 

2. Premier League Kick-Off: Once the summer break ends, anticipate Pep adapting Cherki into City’s attacking engine, perhaps rotating with De Bruyne or Foden.

 

 

3. Team Dynamics: City’s midfield now blends experience (De Bruyne, Silva), youthful energy (Foden, Palmer), and fresh talent (Cherki, Reijnders), creating healthy competition.

 

 

4. Market Ripple Effect: Success in high-profile tournaments might spark further signings—Guardiola may yet look to strengthen different areas as the new season dawns.

 

 

 

 

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🧭 Final Take

 

The paperwork stamp seals Cherki’s arrival not just as a player, but as a symbol: the new face of Pep’s next technical revolution. City balanced finance with footballing ambition, securing one of Europe’s most creative youngsters without overspending on a “big name.” For Lyon, it’s smart business; for Cherki, a historic leap; for City—another strategic trigger accelerating their dominance.

 

 

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