Phil Foden supports Manchester City in major summer transfer spend | OneFootball

Manchester City’s intense summer transfer activity has been supported by Phil Foden, who has insisted that the recruitment was always going to be necessary at some stage.

Following an uncharacteristic season that saw City fall short in all pursuits of major silverware, the Premier League giants have responded with a highly proactive summer transfer window.

Key figures including Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker have departed, new leadership has emerged in the form of Bernardo Silva as captain, and several high-profile arrivals have refreshed Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Phil Foden, recently speaking to reporters at the City Football Academy, reflected not only on the individual preparation ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but also on the broader shift in atmosphere around the squad, pointing to last season’s underwhelming performances as a source of renewed hunger and determination.

He also acknowledged the value of the experience within the squad, suggesting that knowledge of “what it takes” to win at the highest level would play a major role in City’s response. The new season also marks the start of a crucial two years for the club, with Pep Guardiola currently set to leave in 2027 and a desire to return to dominance before then.

Speaking to reporters at the City Football Academy this week, Phil Foden was quizzed on Manchester City’s transfer business, which has added a further six players to the first-team squad over the course of the last few weeks.

“It always gets to a time when any club needs to add new players and freshen things up and we have done that in this transfer window,” Foden admitted.

“And that can only be good for us as the players we have brought in are very high level and fit right into the team and give us something we need a little bit more so we are here to help and we have got a very good squad now,” he added.

Looking ahead to the new campaign as a whole, Foden said, “I think everyone wants to make up for last season, we all want to come to our best and winning titles.

“We have got a lot of experience in the dressing room, with Bernardo [Silva] being captain and hopefully he can push the lads on, we have got all the experience and we have done it before.

“That’s a positive when you have done it before, you know how to do it and what it takes so hopefully we can get back there.”

This summer’s transfer window has seen City prioritise youth, tactical flexibility, and squad depth. Players such as Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have arrived to strengthen key areas, while City continue to reshape the future of the team with long-term investments.

Foden’s comments also come during a period of personal form rebuilding. While he was one of the standout performers in recent campaigns, a significant dip contributed to City’s slip away across the campaign. This time around, the England international will be expected to lead the charge, especially with Kevin De Bruyne now out of the picture and at Napoli.

With the likes of Rodri returning to full sharpness and new signings integrated early into pre-season, all signs now point towards a fresh start for Manchester City, and Foden appears to be embracing both the competition and the expectations.