Men's 2025/26 review: Defenders | OneFootball

We continue our reflection on how City's players performed during the 2025/26 season...

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Today’s focus looks at our defenders who played such a big part across a season that saw City win both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as well as being involved in a pulsating Premier League title race that went down to the wire.

John Stones

It proved to be a bittersweet final season at the Etihad for a true Manchester City legend – and one of the finest defenders ever to represent the Club.

Injury again largely hampered Stones’ availability and minutes on the pitch.

However, as he so often illustrated across the course of a sublime decade at City, when he was called upon the England central defender didn’t let anyone down.

Not least when he skippered the Blues to a fiercely-fought 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory at home to Southampton.

Highlight

The sight of Stones holding the FA Cup aloft alongside fellow departee Bernardo Silva following May’s 1-0 Wembley success against Chelsea was a hugely symbolic and emotional moment.

With the army of City fans as one chorusing the famous ‘Johnny Stones’ song, it also served as a perfect final chapter to his wonderful Etihad career.

Games played: 18Goals: 0Assists: 0Minutes played: 1,144

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Rico Lewis

Games: 22Goals: 2Assists: 3Minutes played: 1,105

Such is the fierce competition for places in the City back line, the Academy graduate had to be patient for minutes on the pitch.

But whenever opportunity arose, the England international - who signed a new long-term contract last September - again gave everything for the cause with his commitment, discipline and tactical flexibility proving invaluable.

Despite his relatively tender years, Lewis’ experience and know-how also proved invaluable in helping the latest crop of young Academy talent to seamlessly integrate into City’s first team environment.

Highlight

Lewis again illustrated his prowess in front of goal in the course of City’s 10-1 FA Cup third round demolition of Exeter City.

The 22-year claimed his first senior brace of goals for the Club to round off what proved an afternoon to remember.

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Rayan Ait-Nouri

Games: 28Goals: 0Assists: 5Minutes played: 1,605

One of a tranche of signings at the start of the summer 2025 transfer window, the Algerian left-back went on to enjoy an impressive first season at City.

His explosive pace and power allied to his natural technical ability helped provide an extra dimension to the City back line whenever he played.

The 25-year-old’s extensive elite level experience both for club and country also came to the fore across a range of competitions for City.

And with a first season at the Club now under his belt, Ait-Nouri will be ideally placed to look to further kick on next term.

Highlight

The Algerian’s ability to offer City an extra attacking option proved invaluable across the season, not least in February’s 1-0 Premier League victory away at Leeds United.

With time almost up in the first half in a tough and tense Elland Road encounter, Ait-Nouri came up with a crucial contribution.

Latching onto a precise Rayan Cherki through ball, Ait-Nouri delivered a pinpoint inviting cross into the path of Antoine Semenyo who fired home what was to prove the decisive goal.

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Abdukodir Khusanov

Games: 37Goals: 0Assists: 0Minutes played: 2,817

After a year immersing himself in the City first team squad following his signing in January 2025, the Uzbek defender really came into his own across the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.

Khusanov’s raw power and pace allied to his thunderous commitment to the cause and unflinching bravery quickly saw him became a huge fan favourite and one of the first names on the City team sheet.

Recipient of the Etihad Player of the Month awards in both January and March, Khusanov also proved a mainstay of the City side that lifted both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in a memorable three-month spell.

And given he is still only 22 years of age, Khusanov is poised to only go from strength to strength looking to the future.

Highlight

There were numerous standout displays from Khusanov but a fearless, compelling 90 minutes away at Burnley towards the end of the season helped illustrate just how much the Uzbek brings to the cause.

A midweek assignment at Turf Moor is the type of test that speaks volumes as to a player’s strength of character and mindset – and on every metric Khusanov more than answered the cause, his performance helping deliver a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

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Marc Guéhi

Games: 20Goals: 2Assists: 1Minutes played: 1,690

Having joined City from Crystal Palace towards the end of the January transfer window, the England central defender immediately hit the ground running and slotted seamlessly into the first team right from the off.

His immense natural ability, elegance and composure on the ball, elite level experience alongside his maturity and superb reading of the game caught the eye immediately.

With City’s central defensive ranks hit by injury to several key players, Guéhi also quickly forged a formidable central defensive partnership alongside Abdukodir Khusanov .

Highlight

There were no shortage of magnificent, eye-catching performances from Guéhi following on from his arrival at City.

But a towering display in what proved a memorable and incident-packed 2-1 Premier League victory at Liverpool in last February will live long in the memory.

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Ruben Dias

Games: 33Goals: 2Assists: 0Minutes played: 2,646

The Portuguese centre half once again proved a veritable rock at the heart of the City back line, despite his season being interrupted and affected by injury.

Dias’s leadership qualities and determination underscored all that he did every time he stepped on the pitch with the 29-year-old the very personification of a team player prepared to always put his body on the line.

One of City’s key leadership team, Dias also again ensured that the drive and desire which have underscored so much of the Club’s success on recent years were again very much in evidence.

Highlight

Whenever Dias conjures up a goal, its usually one to savour and the Portuguese’s strike against Sunderland in November’s 3-0 Premier League home win served as one of the most memorable strikes of the season.

Receiving the ball 25 yards out, Dias unleashed a stunning right-footed drive that rocketed into top right-hand corner of the goal to help kickstart an impressive City victory.

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Nathan Ake

Games: 32Goals: 0Assists: 0Minutes played: 1,644

Having established himself as one of most cultured and graceful defenders to grace the English game over the past decade or so, the Dutchman again delivered performances of the highest quality.

Whether deployed in the centre of the City defence or as a left-back, Ake again brought all his experience to bear.

A potent combination of composure and class, Ake’s displays also again demonstrated why he is one of the most admired and valued members of the City backline.

Highlight

Selected to start in March’s huge Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, Ake was simply immense at Wembley that afternoon.

His tactical acumen, big game know-how and supreme reading of the game coalesced to serve up a performance that helped anchor a brilliant 2-0 victory and drew special praise from Pep Guardiola.

File under class personified.

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Max Alleyne

Games: 7Goals: 1Assists: 0Minutes played: 446

Long regarded as one of the most highly regarded young Academy talents, the central defender had been impressing on loan at Watford when suddenly recalled at the start of January in the midst of a City defensive injury crisis.

Alleyne was immediately thrust into the pressure cooker of a senior Premier League debut at home to Brighton – and the youngster delivered a fine display illustrating both his exciting potential and maturity in a 1-1 draw.

He followed that up with another superb performance in City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg victory at St James’ Park where he dealt with the cauldron of both the occasion and a partisan home crowd with aplomb.

That first team immersion also saw Alleyne figure in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford as well as making his UEFA Champions League bow at Bodo/Glimt – and though both those games ended in defeat, the lessons and learnings for the 21-year-old will be invaluable looking to the future.

Highlight

Alleyne’s memorable period in the first team was arguably capped in an emphatic 10-1 FA Cup third round win at home to Exeter City.

Coming just three days after his senior City debut, Alleyne was again handed a starting berth by Pep Guardiola and rewarded that faith by claiming the opening goal in front of a packed Etihad.

10 Years with Pep: Exclusive Members Book!

A members-exclusive book celebrating Pep Guardiola’s incredible decade at Manchester City is now available to pre-order.

Spectacular photography tells the story of Pep’s time in Manchester from his arrival at the CFA through to his emotional last game at the Etihad against Aston Villa, and subsequent Parade and After Party where we said goodbye to our greatest ever manager.

All of these fabulous memories are captured in the book with the help of a host of behind-the-scenes images from our brilliant photography team.

‘10 Years with Pep’ is available to pre-order now and is priced at £65 plus postage and packaging and will be delivered by Wednesday 30 September 2026.

PRE-ORDER 10 YEARS WITH PEP