Man City summer transfer window 2025: Top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions

Man City will be glad to see the back of a disappointing 2024-25 season in which they failed to win a single major trophy for the first time in eight years.

The Citizens also came up short in the newly-expanded FIFA Club World Cup, crashing out in the last-16 following a 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal.

Seeking to make a swift return to the summit of English football, Pep Guardiola and co are embarking on a new era at the Etihad Stadium, with new sporting director Hugo Viana one of the leading figures at the club in charge of recruitment.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at Man City's top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions for the 2025 summer transfer window.

Man City's budget for 2025 summer transfer window

After winning an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title in 2023-24, Man City only made two signings last summer in the form of Ilkay Gundogan and Savinho - the former returned on a free transfer from Barcelona while the latter joined from Troyes for an initial £21m.

Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez was sold for a club-record £82m fee to Atletico Madrid and Man City were unable to recruit a suitable replacement, leaving them short in the attacking department.

Citizens chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has since acknowledged that the club "should have been more aggressive" in the summer transfer market, and it ultimately "ended up costing us this year."

Around £180m was spent on four new signings in January - Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez - and in excess of £100m has since been spent on four new arrivals this summer as part of a much-needed squad rebuild.

One reason why Man City are able to splash the cash is because they have generated over £175m from selling academy players alone over the last three years, contributing to the club making record revenues for successive years.

Man City's total budget is unknown, but it is thought that the club could spent in excess of £250m on new players this summer, and they could spend more if some high-profile players depart.

Man City's top targets for 2025 summer transfer window

It was reported earlier this year that Man City would target at least four major summers signings as part of a squad overhaul, on top of the four additions made last January.

Man City have wasted little time in bringing some of their top targets to the Etihad, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders all signed prior to their Club World Cup campaign.

The Citizens are now expected to step up their interest in a new right-back, with Kyle Walker expected to depart. Newcastle United's Valentino Livramento is said to be one of their main targets, but his valuation in excess of £70m could prove to be a major stumbling block, while the likes of Flamengo's Wesley and Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina are also said to b on their radar.

City are not only strengthening for the here and now, they are also looking ahead to the future as they are reportedly closing in on the signing of highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder Sverre Nypan, who is expected to head out on loan next season should be complete a move to the blue side of Manchester.

Man City's priority positions for 2025 summer transfer window

With club legend Kevin De Bruyne having now left and joined Napoli, the Citizens were keen to recruit a new playmaker, and while Florian Wirtz had initially been identified as a leading target, they soon shifted their focus to a cheaper alternative in 21-year-old Frenchman Cheki, who has arrived from Lyon for around £34m.

Signing a new No.8 - a box-to-box, versatile central midfielder who can contribute at both ends of the pitch - was also high on Man City's list of prioritises, especially with Gundogan turning 35 years of age in October, and so the addition of Reijnders from AC Milan for an initial £46.5m made sense.

Guardiola used Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Nico O'Reilly at left-back last season, but it became apparent that signing a natural player for that position was high on City's agenda, and Ait-Nouri was subsequently brought in for an initial £31m. His arrival will now allow Guardiola to use Gvardiol as a central defender more often in 2025-26.

The Citizens have bid farewell to cult hero Scott Carson upon the expiration of his contract and have since replaced the experienced goalkeeper with another in the form of 33-year-old Bettinelli, who will act as a third-choice stopper-shopper behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega.

Both Ederson and Ortega have in fact been linked with summer exits, but the former has made it clear that he will be remaining at the club this summer.

For now, the primary target for Man City appears to be a new right-back; neither Matheus Nunes nor Rico Lewis are considered as long-term options for that position and a first-choice addition is expected at some stage this summer.

Man City's most likely signings in 2025 summer transfer window

With four fresh faces having already arrived at Man City, it remains to be seen exactly how many more will be added to Guardiola's squad, and further transfer business will likely depend on potential outgoings.

One arrival that appears to be on the cards in teenage midfielder Nypan from Rosenborg, but as mentioned previously, he is expected to be sent out on loan in 2025-26 before being integrated into Guardiola's senior squad at a later date.

A move for top right-back target Livramento later on in the summer transfer window will likely depend on whether Man City can persuade Newcastle to lower their asking price. If not, then the Citizens may turn to a cheaper alternative such as Wesley, who is believed to be valued at around £30m by Flamengo.

Written by
Oliver Thomas