Manchester City have twice broken their transfer record in 2026, with Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson now occupying the top two spots on the club’s list of most expensive acquisitions.
The Premier League champions paid Chelsea €145m for Argentina midfielder Fernandez on deadline day, matching the league’s record transfer fee.
That followed City’s €135m purchase of England international Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier in the summer, a deal that briefly made him the club’s record signing.
The spending formed part of a major midfield reshuffle following Rodri’s departure to Barcelona, with City also adding several other high-value players during the year.
The following ranking is based on transfer fees reported by FootballTransfers, although figures can differ between sources because of add-ons and variations in how deals are calculated.
1. Enzo Fernandez — €145m
Enzo Fernandez became Manchester City’s record signing after completing his move from Chelsea in September 2026 for €145m.
The Argentina international had previously joined Chelsea from Benfica for €121m in January 2023, making him the first player to complete two transfers worth more than €100m.
2. Elliot Anderson — €135m
Elliot Anderson moved from Nottingham Forest to City for €135m in July 2026, setting a new club record before Fernandez surpassed the mark.
The midfielder had established himself as an England international and impressed at the 2026 World Cup before making the switch to the Etihad.
3. Jack Grealish — €117.5m
Jack Grealish became the most expensive English player when City signed him from Aston Villa for €117.5m in 2021.
He was part of the squad that won the treble during the 2022-23 campaign before subsequently leaving the club on loan.
4. Ayyoub Bouaddi — €95m
Manchester City paid Lille €95m for Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in 2026 as part of the club’s efforts to rebuild its midfield.
The teenager had attracted significant attention for his performances before securing the move to Manchester.
5. Josko Gvardiol — €90m
Croatia international Josko Gvardiol joined City from RB Leipzig for €90m in 2023.
He became one of the club’s costliest defensive recruits and subsequently featured as City competed for major honours.
6. Kevin De Bruyne — €76m
Kevin De Bruyne arrived from Wolfsburg for €76m in 2015, a year before Pep Guardiola became City manager.
The Belgium international went on to make more than 350 appearances and establish himself as one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.
He left City in 2025 after joining Napoli on a free transfer.
7. Omar Marmoush — €75m
Egypt international Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt for €75m in January 2025.
Before the move, he had recorded 20 goals and 14 assists in 27 Bundesliga appearances during the campaign.
8. Antoine Semenyo — €72m
Antoine Semenyo became another major attacking addition in 2026 after City paid Bournemouth €72m for the Ghana international.
Semenyo had impressed during his time at Bournemouth and attracted interest from several clubs before moving to the Premier League champions.
9. Ruben Dias — €71.6m
Ruben Dias joined Manchester City from Benfica for €71.6m in 2020 and quickly became a central figure in the club’s defence.
The Portugal international won the FWA Footballer of the Year award during his first season in England.
10. Rodri — €70m
Rodri completed a €70m move from Atletico Madrid to Manchester City in 2019 and became one of the defining players of the club’s most successful era.
The Spain international scored the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final and won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Rodri subsequently left Manchester City for Barcelona in 2026, bringing an end to his seven-year spell at the club.
