Manchester City and Galatasaray agree on transfer fee for Manuel Akanji | OneFootball

Galatasaray have now reached an agreement with Manchester City on a transfer fee for Manuel Akanji, according to new reports.

Akanji, 30, joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window and the centre-half is entering the last two years of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.

City endured a difficult personnel crisis in central defence last term, with Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Ruben Dias all serving time on the sidelines at various stages of what proved to be Pep Guardiola’s most challenging season in charge of the Blues.

Kyle Walker’s mid-season departure to AC Milan on loan forced Manchester City to enter the January transfer window and secure the arrival(s) of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis to alleviate Guardiola’s troubles in defence.

With Reis joining CFG-owned side Girona on loan for the 2025-26 campaign, Manchester City have trimmed their centre-back department as part of a sliding doors transfer window that has witnessed a major revamp of Guardiola’s first-team squad.

Walker has joined Burnley on a permanent basis, with Manchester City deciding to keep John Stones at the club into the final year of the England international’s contract amid speculation over a possible return to Everton for the 31-year-old.

Ruben Dias has agreed a contract renewal past 2027 and upon his return to fitness, City’s 2024/25 Player of the Season Josko Gvardiol will been allowed to retain his spot alongside Dias at centre-back following the £31 million acquisition of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves this summer.

Having sanctioned a series of permanent exits and loans within the first-team dressing room already this summer, Guardiola is keen on trimming the Manchester City squad further between now and the September 1 transfer deadline.

The last week has seen Akanji attract interest from Galatasaray, who have been keen to sign the Switzerland international and reunite him with his current Manchester City teammate Ederson, who is also keen on a move to Turkey.

According to initial information courtesy of Footmercato’s Santi Aouna, Manchester City had wanted £18 million for Akanji this summer.

The same report claimed that the Turkish Super Lig champions had sent a verbal offer to the Etihad Stadium worth £15 million, with discussions scheduled for this week between Akanji’s agent and Galatasaray.

Now, according to the information of journalist Fabrizio Romano, it appears as though an agreement between the two clubs over the Swiss defender has been reached at the valuation of £15 million, with a deal now only pending ‘final details.

City retain an option of recalling Reis from his loan at Girona in the event of another personnel crisis at defence but a possible departure for Akanji this summer has divided opinion between Manchester City fans on social media this week.

City are unlikely to seek out a direct replacement for Akanji in the remainder of the summer market, with Pep Guardiola and his fellow backroom staff coaches comfortable with the depth available to them in the central defensive position.