10 things you (probably) didn’t know about Rayan Cherki | OneFootball

Rayan Cherki has arrived at the Etihad Stadium!

The French attacking midfielder has signed a five-year deal and will join up with Pep Guardiola’s squad this summer.

Here we get to know our new attacking talent a little better…

The Crowd Pleaser

Rayan Cherki wants to excite and entertain – he is a naturally gifted footballer capable of breath-taking moments of skill.

In December 2024, he said: "You can feel it in every match. I give my all for the team and try to please my team-mates and the spectators. I want to enjoy myself on the pitch, give pleasure to others and bring back a bit of the soccer I used to play."

Always looking to improve…

Rayan is very much a student of the game and always looking to learn – to be able to work with Pep Guardiola was too good an opportunity to turn down.

SHOP OUR PUMA KING COLLECTION

But he remains his own biggest critic, recently saying: "I watch a lot of my matches, which helps me identify where I can improve and find ways to annoy the opposition. In training, I work a lot on these aspects."

WATCH: I can’t wait to link up with City team-mates, says Cherki

Let me entertain you…

Rayan believes football exists to entertain – and he loves nothing more than getting people out of their seats with a piece of magic or a majestic flick or trick.

He says: "I'm someone who wants to give pleasure, who tries to do beautiful things with the ball while remaining efficient.

“I like to dribble and play with joy. I've had many idols, but the one who inspires me most is Cristiano Ronaldo. His longevity is exemplary, and he's the one to emulate."

He spent 15 years with Lyon

Cherki joined Olympique Lyonnaise aged seven and has spent 15 years with his hometown club, joining in 2010.

He made 185 appearances for the club and remains their youngest ever goal scorer in a competitive match.

Sweet 16

Rayan was just 16 when he made his senior debut for Lyon against Dijon in October 2019 and within a few weeks had become their youngest ever goal-scorer when he netted in a Coupe de France tie against Bourg.

Ligue 1 assist king

His 11 Ligue 1 assists made him the French league’s most productive goal-maker.

He saw off PSG’s Bradley Barcola in the final match of the campaign after the pair had been tied on 10. Quite an achievement given the talent around him in France.

Wind in his sails

Rayan accepted he had probably played his final game for Lyon in the 2-0 win over Angers in May, helping secure a sixth-place finish for his boyhood club.

Afterwards, he said: "It was my last, I think, with Lyon, but I'm cautious because I know what I went through last summer, I know where I went, I'll see where the wind takes me, I'm proud of what I've done for OL.”

Olympian

Cherki was a key member of the France team that went all the way to the Men’s 2024 Olympic Games football final, coming on as a sub in extra time against Spain.

In a thrilling match, Spain triumphed 5-3 leaving Rayan with a silver medal for his efforts

Young Gun

On 19 August 2020, Rayan came on as a sub against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

The tournament was played in Lisbon during the pandemic, but at 17 years and two days old, he became the youngest-ever player to feature in a UEFA Champions League semi-final.

He has beaten City before

Just four days before the above game a 16-year-old Cherki watched from the bench as Lyon stunned Champions League favourites City 3-1 in the quarter-finals.

The teenager was an unused sub on the day, unaware that he was watching his future employers exit the competition.