2025–26 Manchester City F.C. season

The 2025–26 season is the 131st season in the existence of Manchester City Football Club and their 24th consecutive season in the topflight of English football. In addition to the domestic league, Manchester City is also participating in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League, entering the latter for the 15th consecutive season.

This is the club's first season since 2014–15 without midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who departed for Napoli following the expiration of his contract, and the first season since 2016–17 without Kyle Walker (to Burnley) and Ederson (to Fenerbahçe). Bernardo Silva was named as the club's new captain after Walker's departure. This also marks the first campaign since 2020–21 which Manchester City did not enter as reigning Premier League champions.

Supplier: Puma / Sponsor: Etihad Airways (Front) / OKX (Sleeves)

The revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup spanned the period between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 English football seasons. City's involvement in this competition is documented on their 2024–25 season page.

It had been anticipated that City's squad would need a major overhaul in the summer to remain competitive at the highest level after a trophyless season. While this transition began in the previous January transfer window, further changes were expected, particularly in midfield, at full-back and potentially at centre-half if the club chose to offload some of their aging and injury-prone players. Between 9 and 11 June, the transfers of left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers; midfielders Tijjani Reijnders from Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon; and of back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea were duly completed in time for the players to join the squad for the Club World Cup at a total estimated cost of £112 million.^[1][2][3][4] Goalkeeper and former Manchester City EDS player James Trafford also rejoined the club from Burnley for £31 million, after the Club World Cup.^[5] Key departures included Jack Grealish, who was sent on loan to Everton.^[6] The full squad regrouped for pre-season training at the City Football Academy on 28 July 2025. Fans were welcomed back through a City Are Back open training session at Joie Stadium on 5 August, providing supporters the first chance to see the new signings in action.^[7]

On 7 July 2025, Manchester City announced a friendly against sister club Palermo to contest the inaugural Anglo-Palermitan Trophy. On 2 August, a behind-closed-doors friendly at the City Football Academy against Preston North End was played, ending in a 1–0 win thanks to a goal from Rico Lewis. On 9 August, City's single open, full-match friendly against Palermo resulted in a convincing 3–0 victory.^[8]

Manchester City launched their league campaign with an emphatic 4–0 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 16 August 2025. Erling Haaland continued his tradition of scoring on opening days, netting a brace with goals in the 34th and 61st minutes. Tijjani Reijnders, making his Premier League debut, scored one and was instrumental in both of Haaland's goals–delivering a dynamic and influential performance.^[9]

City next faced Tottenham Hotspur at the City of Manchester Stadium on 23 August. Tottenham secured a 2–0 victory, with goals from Brennan Johnson in the 35th minute and João Palhinha in first-half stoppage time. Tottenham's disciplined defence and pressing game under their new manager Thomas Frank proved decisive.^[10]

On 31 August, Manchester City suffered a 2–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium in the Premier League.^[11] Despite taking the lead through Erling Haaland in the 34th minute—his 88th goal in 100 league appearances—City were undone in the second half. Former Blue, James Milner, equalised from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after a hand-ball from Matheus Nunes, and Brajan Gruda netted the winner in the 89th minute following a late surge by Brighton. The loss marked City's second consecutive league defeat, raising concerns about their early-season form.

On transfer deadline day, 1 September 2025, Manchester City concluded several significant moves. The most notable was the signing of Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £26 million,^[12] intended to succeed Ederson, who departed for Fenerbahçe after eight seasons at the club.^[13] Other key exits included İlkay Gündoğan to Galatasaray and Manuel Akanji on loan to Inter Milan.^[14][15]

Following the September 2025 international break, Manchester City recorded consecutive victories. On 14 September, City defeated Manchester United 3–0 at home in the Premier League, with goals from Phil Foden and a brace from Erling Haaland.^[16] Four days later, on 18 September 2025, City beat Napoli 2–0 in their opening UEFA Champions League league stage match. Haaland scored his 50th goal in the competition in his 49th appearance, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone, while Jérémy Doku added the second against the Italian side, who played most of the match with ten men.^[17]

Manchester City resumed their league campaign on 21 September with a 1–1 draw at Arsenal. Erling Haaland put City ahead after nine minutes, but Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued a point for the hosts.^[18][19] Three days later, on 24 September 2025, City advanced in the EFL Cup with a 2–0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the third round, as Phil Foden opened the scoring and Savinho doubled the lead.^[20][21] This was followed up with an emphatic 5–1 Premier League victory over Burnley on 27 September. The match featured two own goals from Maxime Estève, an injury time brace from Haaland, and a strike from Matheus Nunes, while Rico Lewis marked his 100th senior appearance for the club.^[22][23] This result left City in seventh place and five points behind early leaders and defending champions Liverpool.

In their second match of the Champions League league phase, City drew Monaco 2–2 away from home.^[24] Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before Jordan Teze equalised three minutes later. Despite City taking a 2–1 lead into half-time thanks to another Haaland header, they were unable to maintain their advantage as Eric Dier converted a late penalty to secure a point for Monaco.

A further Haaland goal and a 1–0 away win at Brentford on 5 October meant City went into the second international break in fifth place, just three points behind new league leaders Arsenal. Haaland's 12 goals in nine appearances so far this season had elevated him to the top of the European Golden Shoe standings alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, and into the list of the top 10 all-time City goalscorers after just over three seasons at the club.^[25]

Returning to domestic competition, City extended their winning run with a 2–0 home victory over Everton on 19 October, with Haaland reaching double figures for league goals.^[26] Three days later, City recorded another 2–0 win away to Villarreal, moving into seventh place in the Champions League league standings.^[27] At this point, Haaland had scored in 12 consecutive appearances for club and country. This streak, and the club's winning streak, ended soon after with a 1–0 away defeat to Aston Villa, marking the third consecutive season that City had lost this fixture.^[28] By the end of October, City sat fifth in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Arsenal.^[29]

The Blues started November with a 3–1 win against Bournemouth at home, with Haaland pushing his goal tally to 13 in the Premier League. In the second half, Nico O'Reilly registered his first goal of the season with a composed left foot shot into the bottom right corner. Before the November international break, City defeated Liverpool 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium in what was Pep Guardiola's 1000th game in football management. Although Erling Haaland's early penalty was saved by Georgian backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, he later opened the scoring with a header. Nico González and Jérémy Doku added further goals from outside the penalty area. The result left City second in the league standings, four points behind leaders Arsenal.^[30]

After the November international break, Manchester City returned to Premier League action with a 1–2 away defeat to Newcastle United. A long-range strike from Harvey Barnes in the 63rd minute put Newcastle ahead, but Rúben Dias equalised shortly afterwards with a volley. City's hope of a comeback ended when Barnes struck again in the 70th minute, with the goal confirmed only after a VAR review for offside.^[31]

In the Champions League, City lost 0–2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Guardiola made ten changes to his starting XI for the match, and the German side took the lead through Álex Grimaldo in the 23rd minute, with Patrik Schick doubling the advantage early in the second half to complete a surprise win.^[32]

The Blues responded with a 3–2 victory over Leeds United. Phil Foden scored after just one minute, and then struck again in stoppage time to prevent a Leeds comeback and secure all three points for City.^[33]

City began their busy December schedule with a 5–4 away win against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 2 December 2025. Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal — becoming the fastest player to reach that mark in just 111 appearances — and Phil Foden scored twice as City moved within two points of the league leaders, before holding on following a late Fulham fightback after they had led by four goals.^[34]

On 6 December, City recorded a 3–0 home win over Sunderland in the Premier League, with goals from Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Phil Foden, narrowing the gap to the top of the table.^[35]

In the Champions League on 10 December, the Blues secured a 2–1 victory at Real Madrid in the league phase, coming from behind with an equaliser from Nico O'Reilly and a Haaland penalty to take the win at the Santiago Bernabéu.^[36]

On 14 December, Manchester City continued their Premier League campaign with a 3–0 away win against Crystal Palace, with Haaland scoring twice and Foden adding a goal to keep pressure on league leaders Arsenal.^[37]

City’s festive run concluded with mixed results at the start of 2026. A 0–0 draw away to Sunderland on New Year’s Day halted their winning momentum after eight consecutive victories in all competitions; before two consecutive 1–1 home draws against Chelsea and Brighton on 4 January and 7 January respectively saw City drop further ground in the title race; conceding a 94th minute equaliser in the former fixture. Despite scoring first and dominating possession and territory in both games, Guardiola’s side were unable to convert their chances, leaving them second in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Arsenal after 21 matches. Preparations also continued for the upcoming EFL Cup semi-final against Newcastle United, following December’s 2–0 quarter-final victory over Brentford.

Off the pitch, the club were rumoured to be active in the winter transfer window, reaching agreement to sign in form Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for his short-term £65 million release fee, a deal which was concluded on 9 January;^[38] and were rumoured to also be in discussions to sign England defender Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace. A deal that had been predicated by long-term injuries to first-choice centre-halves Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol in the Chelsea game.^[39] That deal was concluded on 19 January for a reported £20 million fee.^[40]

Semenyo immediately made his City debut on 10 January in a 10–1 FA Cup third‑round victory over Exeter City, scoring and assisting in his first appearance — the first City player to do so since Sergio Agüero against Swansea City in 2011. In all, seven different City players made goal contributions in the match, including a debut senior goal for Ryan McAidoo and a first senior goal for Max Alleyne.^[41][42]

Following their FA Cup victory, City's inconsistent January form continued. On 13 January, Guardiola's side secured a 2–0 away win over Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi‑finals first leg, taking control of the tie through a disciplined defensive display and clinical finishing.^[43] However, the Blues then suffered back‑to‑back defeats. A 2–0 loss away to Manchester United on 17 January marked their first Premier League defeat of 2026, with the hosts scoring twice in the second half to end Manchester City's recent unbeaten run in the derby. Four days later, City were unexpectedly beaten 3–1 by Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League league phase, as the Norwegian champions capitlized on defensive lapses, and left City needing to win their final league game against Galatasaray to ensure qualification as a top 8 side.

The team responded on 24 January with a much‑needed 2–0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – their first Premier League victory of the year, and Marc Guehi's debut for the club – as Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo both scored, reducing Arsenal's lead at the top to four points. Their month concluded with a 2–0 home win over Galatasaray on 28 January in the Champions League league phase, ensuring that City qualified for the knockout phase last 16 directly as one of the top eight clubs in the standings.^[44]

Manchester City resumed their Premier League campaign on 1 February with a 2–2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur. Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo goals gave the blues a two-goal lead at half time, but a second half brace from Dominic Solanke meant the points were shared. On 8 February, City recorded a significant 2–1 away victory over Liverpool at Anfield. After falling behind in the second half, Guardiola's side turned the match around with a composed display, as Bernardo Silva slid in with an 84th-minute equalizer before Haaland scored his 20th league goal of the season from the penalty spot in injury time. The result was widely described as a statement performance, keeping City within touching distance of leaders Arsenal in what had become a closely fought title battle.

City then hosted Fulham at the City of Manchester Stadium on 11 February, winning 3–0. A dominant display saw the Blues control possession and territory throughout, with goals from Haaland, Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly securing a comfortable victory and further improving their goal difference. On 22 February, City again hosted Newcastle at the Etihad, with O'Reilly scoring a brace to help the team win 2–1 and keep them in title contentions at the end of the matchweek. In a very important match at Elland Road against Leeds United on 28 February, City gained a 1–0 win, thanks to a goal by Antoine Semenyo and amazing defensive performance.

As of 2 February 2026^[45]

On 7 July, a pre-season friendy against sister club Palermo for the Anglo Palermitan Trophy was announced.^[112]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

On 18 June 2025, the Premier League fixtures were released, with Manchester City starting the campaign away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[115]

  Win   Draw   Loss   To Be Confirmed   Fixtures

As a Premier League side, Manchester City entered the FA Cup in the third round and were drawn at home to Exeter City.^[125] They were then drawn at home against Salford City in the fourth round,^[126] away to Newcastle United in the fifth round^[127] and home to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.^[128]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

As one of the Premier League clubs participating in European competitions, Manchester City entered the competition in the third round, and were drawn away to Huddersfield Town.^[129] They were then drawn away to Swansea City in the fourth round,^[130] and at home to Brentford in the quarter-finals.^[131] A two-legged tie against Newcastle United was drawn for the semi-finals, with the first leg being away and second leg at home.^[132]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Manchester City were drawn against Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray at home, and Monaco, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Bodø/Glimt away in the league phase.^[133][134]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures