One summer signing by Manchester City was by far and away their most impactful addition | OneFootball

The summer transfer window of 2025 was a busy one for Manchester City. City signed Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, James Trafford, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marcus Bettinelli, and Sverre Nypan. In January, City signed Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo. However, for this article, Guehi and Semenyo aren’t considered in the same category as City’s summer signings of 2025. Those two players are in their own category, which will be touched upon at a later date. In terms of which one of Manchester City’s summer signings had the most impact, one player stands out: Rayan Cherki. The French international had a superb debut season at City, which sets him up for a strong career at the club.

Rayan Cherki’s impact at Manchester City was tremendous in his debut season.

Manchester City signed Rayan Cherki from Lyon ahead of last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. Cherki showed flashes at the tournament of what he’d add to Pep Guardiola’s squad in the United States. By the end of the season, Cherki had firmly established himself as an important player for City.

In 52 appearances in all competitions, Rayan Cherki scored 10 goals and added 15 assists. Cherki’s beginning to the 2025-26 season was delayed by a thigh injury that he sustained after City’s second Premier League game of the season which was a 2-0 loss to Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. Cherki missed nine matches during that time which was a great shame. However, when he returned from injury he quickly established himself as a key player in this Manchester City side.

Cherki’s creativity and playmaking ability stood out throughout this season. The fact that he picked up 15 assists illustrates this. More than that, Cherki was always a creative outlet for his team. His ability to create chances is almost second to none in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side benefited greatly from Cherki’s playmaking ability.

Cherki’s ability to produce the unexpected and spectacular also makes him one of the must-watch players in the Premier League. The rabona assist he produced in Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Etihad in December was one of the highlights of the season. Cherki’s catalog of skills, tricks, and flicks is brilliant and is the cherry on top of his exceptional performances.

Rayan Cherki also showed that he can perform in big matches. He put in superb displays in Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in April, and City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This trait of Cherki’s will also set him up for a big career at Manchester City.

Rayan Cherki isn’t the finished product which also stood out times.

Any doubts that Rayan Cherki wouldn’t fit into the Manchester City squad and system were quickly erased this season. The French international adapted to life in a Pep Guardiola side extreme well, and quickly. However, despite how influential and impactful as Cherki was, there were reminders throughout his debut season that he isn’t yet the finished product as a player.

Cherki is guilty at times of trying too much. That is his style of play and part of what makes him such an enthralling player to watch. However, once he picks his moments better to either beat a man or try the killer ball, Cherki will be an infinitely more dangerous and complete player.

Also, Cherki’s form tapered off toward the end of the season. That was to be expected in his debut season at Manchester City. The number of games Cherki played this season is also something new for the 22-year-old playmaker. However, there are no significant concerns over the areas of Cherki’s game that he needs to improve. They should be ironed out as he matures as a player.

Final thoughts.

Rayan Cherki was by far and away Manchester City’s most impactful signing of the 2025 summer transfer window. Cherki arrived at City as a tantalizing prospect. By the end of the season, he is now established as an important player at Manchester City.

The expectations were high for what Cherki could produce as a Manchester City player this season. He far exceeded them. Cherki’s debut season was superb, and you do sense that he has only scratched the surface of the player he will become at City.