“I lost my dad here” – Nathan Ake’s emotional farewell message to Man City upon Fenerbahce exit | OneFootball

Nathan Ake has posted a heartfelt farewell message to Manchester City supporters following his departure to Fenerbahce, reflecting on six years in which he won 12 trophies and described the city of Manchester as far more than simply the place where he played football.

Ake’s exit from the Etihad Stadium was confirmed earlier this week in a deal understood to be worth £7 million plus £1.5 million in add-ons, with the Netherlands international joining Fenerbahce on a permanent basis and set to link up with his new club’s pre-season camp in Austria following the conclusion of his FIFA World Cup duties.

Director of football Hugo Viana paid tribute to Ake’s contribution in a statement released by the club, describing the defender as “an outstanding, model professional who set high standards for everyone” – a tribute that underlined the regard in which Ake was held not only as a player but as a figure within the culture of the training environment he leaves behind.

What has followed is a farewell message from the player himself that goes considerably further than the usual pleasantries of a departure statement, offering an insight into the personal significance of six years in Manchester that extended far beyond anything that took place on a football pitch.

The message, posted across Ake’s social media channels, speaks to the depth of a connection between player and city that few departures in Manchester City’s recent history have captured with such raw honesty – and which has resonated strongly with supporters across the club’s fanbase.

Ake: “I lost my dad here… Manchester will always hold a special place in my heart”

In a message addressed to the Manchester City faithful, Ake opened by placing his six years at the club in the context of a life shaped as much by personal experience as professional achievement.

“After six unforgettable years, the time has come to say goodbye,” wrote Ake. “Manchester City has been so much more than just a football club to me, it has been my home.

“Together, we’ve shared incredible moments and won 12 trophies, creating memories that will stay with me forever. But beyond the success on the pitch, it’s the moments in my personal life that have made this city so special.

“I lost my dad here, one of the hardest moments of my life. I got married while playing for this club, and we’ve been blessed with two beautiful children during our time here. Manchester will always hold a special place in my heart because so much of my life has happened here.

“To all my teammates over the years, the manager and the staff, thank you for every moment we shared and every memory we made. We’ve made history together that will never be forgotten. Thank you for taking care of me and my family and for making us feel at home from day one.

“And to the fans – thank you. Thank you for your incredible support through the highest highs and the toughest lows. I will always be grateful for the way you embraced me and my family.

“It’s never easy to say goodbye to a place that has given you so much, but I leave with nothing but gratitude and memories that will last a lifetime. Manchester will always feel like home. Thank you for everything.”

What does Ake’s farewell tell us about his legacy at Man City?

The 12 trophies Ake references – spanning four Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, a Club World Cup, three Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and a Community Shield – paint the picture of a player who was at the centre of one of the most decorated eras in English football history, even if his own role within those successes fluctuated in prominence from season to season.

Pep Guardiola consistently valued Ake for precisely the qualities Viana highlighted in his tribute – dependability, versatility and an unimpeachable professionalism – with the Dutchman’s ability to operate across the defensive line providing a tactical flexibility that proved particularly valuable across City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 season.

Beyond the medals and the statistics, however, it is the personal dimension of Ake’s farewell that gives this departure a significance that few transfer announcements carry – a player who experienced some of life’s most formative and painful moments within the same city where he was achieving the summit of his professional ambitions.

Enzo Maresca now inherits a squad from which one of its most experienced and trusted defensive voices has departed, with the task of replacing Ake’s influence both on and off the pitch adding yet another consideration to what is already one of the most consequential summers of squad reconstruction the Etihad Stadium has witnessed in recent memory.