Ranking Manchester City's Top 10 Summer Transfers of the Past 10 Years
Since their takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, Manchester City have been perennial big spenders, bringing in some of the biggest names in European football to play in the Premier League.
Most of their activity, particularly in recent years, has taken place in the summer. Txiki Begiristain, the club’s sporting director, likes to get deals done swiftly and with plenty of time before the new season begins.
A list of the best 10 summer deals the club has completed over the last 10 years is obviously going to be dominated by post-2008 deals, with the riches Sheikh Mansour brought to east Manchester significantly improving their financial muscle and increasing the quality of player they target.
Here are the 10 best summer deals the club has completed, based on their quality, achievements and value for money. Feel free to make additional suggestions in the comments section below.
10. Martin Demichelis
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Signed in the summer of 2013 from Atletico Madrid for £3.5 million
Martin Demichelis' start to his City career was unconvincing. After an injury in his first week of training saw him miss the opening few matches of the 2013/14 season, he struggled with the pace of English football when he got himself fit and into the side.
But in March of that season, his form turned around dramatically. After being labelled a liability, his display in a win away at Hull City was the catalyst for far better performances. He was key in City's charge to the title.
Last season, a difficult one for City, he was the club's best defender, far more consistent than Eliaquim Mangala and Vincent Kompany.
For a relatively small fee, he's brought experience and quality and has proved to be a superb signing, even if he was always a short-term option.
9. Gareth Barry
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Signed in the summer of 2009 from Aston Villa for £12 million
In among a host of big-name signings in the aftermath of the club's takeover, an English midfielder with a wonderful ability to pass the ball and knit play together was signed.
Gareth Barry turned out to be a vital capture. He helped the side win the 2011 FA Cup and the 2012 Premier League title. His game was simple yet effective. City often looked a far less functional team when he was absent.
8. Fernandinho
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Signed in the summer of 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30 million
Fernandinho, on the evidence of this season, is one of the finest midfielders in the game.
He's a throwback player, reminiscent of the days when all midfielders were described as being box-to-box types. His energy and stamina are remarkable, and he has influence in both defensive and attacking areas of the pitch.
His arrival in 2013 was key to the club's title win in 2014. The ground he covered allowed Yaya Toure much more freedom, and, as a result, the Ivorian scored 24 goals in all competitions and City won the League Cup and Premier League title.
This season, he's raised his game further, and his recent display in Seville was genuinely world-class.
7. Carlos Tevez
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Signed in the summer of 2009 from West Ham United for an undisclosed fee
Carlos Tevez, some believe, was the major catalyst for City's recent success.
He had spent two seasons on loan at Manchester United, but City, in need of some world-class ability to match their ambitions, made him their primary target. His signing made a huge statement that City could compete for any player, and other star names followed because of his presence in the squad.
He drove them to the 2011 FA Cup with a series of match-winning and inspirational displays. That trophy was the end of City's 35-year wait for silverware and helped change the mentality of the club.
He scored 73 goals in 148 games for the Blues.
6. Joe Hart
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Signed in the summer of 2006 from Shrewsbury Town for £100,000
Joe Hart was signed in 2006 having been scouted by then-goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers, but it wasn't until he returned from a hugely successful loan spell at Birmingham City in 2010 that he began to make his mark.
Since then, he’s been City’s No. 1 and has become known as one of the best ‘keepers in English football.
His best display for the club came at the Camp Nou last season against Barcelona. He made a series of mind-numbing saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
A slight blip in form back in 2013 saw him dropped, but since then, he’s constantly improved. This season, he’s been one of City’s best players. What a bargain.
5. Pablo Zabaleta
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Signed in the summer of 2008 from Espanyol for £6 million
One of only two players on this list signed prior to Mansour's arrival, Pablo Zabaleta's relationship with the City fans is unparalleled. He's a firm favourite on the terraces.
His all-action style endeared him instantly with the supporters, but in 2011, he also began to establish himself as one of the best right-backs in Europe. His improvement was remarkable.
He's made close to 300 appearances and will be remembered at City long after he leaves.
4. Sergio Aguero
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Signed in the summer of 2011 from Atletico Madrid for £38 million
Sergio Aguero wasn't cheap, but when a player brings such quality to a side the fee becomes largely irrelevant.
Aguero is the best striker in the club's history. He's hit 115 goals for the club in just 175 games—a remarkable striker rate, particularly when one considers his injury record.
Pace, movement, balance and goalscoring instincts—Aguero has everything a top forward could want. Is there a better out-and-out striker in world football?
At 27, City have plenty more to come from the Argentinian.
3. Vincent Kompany
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Signed in the summer of 2008 from Hamburg for £6 million
City captain Vincent Kompany has become more than just a great player.
The Belgian very quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the league—despite initially being played in midfield under former boss Mark Hughes—but his remit extends far beyond the pitch.
As captain, Kompany has become the link between the club’s players and the media. An intelligent, articulate speaker, he looks set for a role in football far beyond his playing days.
Kompany has led the team to two league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. For £6 million, he represents incredible value for money.
2. Yaya Toure
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Signed in the summer of 2010 from Barcelona for £24 million
When City signed Yaya Toure in 2010, some felt he was indicative of the club's haphazard approach to transfers, an expensive mercenary unconcerned with football and obsessed with money.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
Toure has developed into one of the most expansive and brilliant midfielders in the game and has been essential to City's success.
He's the man for the big occasion. He's scored a plethora of important goals, including winners in the semi-final and final of the 2011 FA Cup, a double away at Newcastle in 2012 that put City on the cusp of the title, an equaliser in the 2014 League Cup final and a series of vital strikers in the title run-in during the same year.
He's emphatically delivered and will surely take on an ambassadorial role at the club when his playing days are over.
1. David Silva
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Signed in the summer of 2010 from Valencia for £24 million
David Silva is widely considered the best player in City's history and therefore tops this list of best summer signings.
Signed from Valecia immediately after winning the 2010 World Cup with Spain, Silva has brought guile and vision to City and is their key attacking player.
He sees the game in such clarity, with one pass capable of opening up a defence and creating a chance. He's the team's conductor, the man who dictates the pace of the game and the player everyone looks towards when City need some inspiration.
He's largely underrated in the Premier League and, remarkably, is yet to win the PFA Player of the Year award and has only once been named in the Premier League Team of the Year.
City fans know his true worth.
