Manchester City have completed the signing of Rayan Cherki from Lyon.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, which keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2030.
Cherki, a product of Lyon’s academy, is vastly experienced despite his young age having already played 185 times for his boyhood club.
He has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most creative and exciting young talents to have emerged in the European game.
Cherki made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in October 2019 and quickly made his mark, becoming Lyon’s youngest ever scorer with a strike in January 2020.
Later that season, he became the youngest player to feature in a Champions League semi-final when he was substituted on during Lyon’s tie with Bayern Munich.
Also Read: Guardiola Awarded Honorary Degree By University Of Manchester
The winger became a regular with the French side in 2022/23 and has since been one of the standout players in Ligue 1.
In fact, his form in 2024/25 meant he was one of just two players outside of Paris Saint-Germain to feature in the French top flight’s Team of the Season.
Cherki provided further evidence of his sublime talent in March when he helped France’s Under-21s defeat an England Under-21 side featuring both Rico Lewis and James McAtee 5-3 in a friendly, the midfielder rounding off a quite bewitching display with two assists and France’s final goal.
The following month Cherki also served up two sumptuous displays in Lyon’s eventful Europa League quarter-final ties with Manchester United, scoring in both legs before the French side went out 7-6 on aggregate.
And most recently, Cherki’s quality and vast potential was illustrated on the senior international stage.
Summoned from the bench for his France bow in last week’s UEFA Nations League semi-final against Spain, he helped spark a spirited late comeback from 5-1 down, also finding the target, before Les Bleus were finally edged out 5-4.
That was followed by a fine maiden full appearance in Sunday’s third and fourth place play-off with Cherki helping France defeat Germany 2-0.
A winger or attacking midfielder who can dribble past an opponent or burst into space, Cherki has an eye for an assist as much as finding the net himself.
Exceptionally two-footed, he’s capable of beating a man, putting a cross in or shooting from any angle.
Cherki will now be available to Pep Guardiola immediately, starting with this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.
mancity.com
