Manuel

Akanji

CULTURED CENTRE BACK...

The Swiss central defender joined from Borussia Dortmund in September 2022 having made more than 150 appearances in total for the Bundesliga club.

He began his career at FC Winterthur in his homeland before moving to Basel, where he impressed enough in his three seasons to convince Dortmund to swoop for him in January 2018.

During the course of his four-and-a-half year stay with the Black and Yellows, Manuel helped Dortmund to win the German Super Cup in 2019 and the German Cup in 2020/21.

He is also an experienced international, having won more than 70 caps with Switzerland to date, and featured for his country at two World Cup and two European Championships.

In his 48 appearances in all competitions in his first season, City won 37, as they overcame a hectic fixture schedule in the final months of the season to create history. 

Within three weeks Akanji was part of a trio of amazing celebrations. 

City lifted our third consecutive Premier League title, followed by FA Cup final glory over Manchester United.

And the piece de resistance, the Champions League trophy on 10 June 2023, becoming part of City’s Treble-winning squad in his debut season. 

The defender has continued to go from strength to strength at the beginning of the 2023/24 season. He played the entirety of our Super Cup win over Sevilla in Athens on 16 August 2023 as he adds his fourth accolade to his City career. 

And Manu collected yet another winner’s medal as City beat Fluminense to win the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

Then came his second Premier League title in as many seasons later that term, with the defender again featuring 48 times across the campaign.

40 games followed in 2024/25 despite some injury issues.