Manchester City raised over £300million in sales last summer, mainly for nine first-team players. How are those departees faring away from the Etihad?

City’s last summer as a big-spending juggernaut (probably) was financed by the sale of fringe players and some club icons.

Here’s how they have fared at their new clubs so far.

Bernardo Silva

Nobody played more times in the Pep Guardiola era than Bernardo, a scrappy yet supremely gifted midfielder that Portugal seem to churn out relentlessly.

It surprised nobody that Real Madrid picked him up on a free, especially given that Jose Mourinho had returned to the club. Bernardo was exactly the type of player they needed.

He’s been a regular for Madrid so far, making 13 appearances in all competitions, as they sit directly on Barcelona’s shoulder.

John Stones

The latest Brit to sample Serie A – and possibly receive one of its famous glow-ups – Stones swapped Manchester for Milan after his contract expired in June.

After three sub appearances, Stones made his first Inter start against Udinese in September but went off with a foot injury. Frustrating for a player who has suffered several setbacks in recent years.

He has not played since.

Manuel Akanji

The first player to say his goodbyes was Akanji, a £13million deal with Inter Milan going through at the start of July.

Spiritually, the defender had already left City the previous year and this deal was simply formalising a previous loan.

Inter are the dominant force in Serie A these days and Akanji has played 13 times in all competitions this season for the team sitting second behind an unbeaten Lazio.

Nathan Ake

Ake played an important role in the treble-winning campaign and the 2023-24 Premier League title success that followed it.

But the defender’s appearances over the last two seasons were extremely limited. Injuries didn’t help, nor did a succession of new signings arriving in his place.

Ake was sold to Fenerbahce for £7million, becoming one of several ex-Premier League stars on their books.

He missed the Champions League win over Liverpool with a hamstring injury, but played the full 90 in their 6-0 hammering at Aston Villa. Ouch.

James Trafford

Trafford made a dream return to City in 2025 after conceding approximately 8.3 goals for Burnley over a 46-game Championship season.

But Guardiola flinched after three matches and signed Gianluigi Donnarumma to be the club’s No. 1 instead.

Trafford made just one more Premier League start, although he did play in both domestic cup finals and was named in England’s World Cup squad.

Still, the goalkeeper wanted more first-team football and Leeds United made him their club-record signing in a £45million deal.

“You are ringing a lot of people and just venting,” Trafford said about last season’s struggles. “Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.

“I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It’s quite funny.

He continued: “I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing. You just lose yourself not playing.”

Since joining Leeds, Trafford has been one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers and played twice for England over the last international break.

Many are now tipping him to replace Jordan Pickford as first choice for his country.

Rodri

Barcelona found some new financial freedom this summer, allowing them to sign Rodri for £65.4million and substantially increase his wages too.

City replaced him with three players – Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi – but are currently realising that filling a Rodri-shaped hole in midfield isn’t quite so simple.

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old has settled into life in Catalonia seamlessly. So seamlessly that Barcelona want to play him at every opportunity and not balance his load to avoid further injuries.

Because of this, Rodri missed recent matches against Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid. Minutes will need to be managed.

Tijjani Reijnders

Reijnders made one of the most eye-catching debuts in Premier League history, scoring and providing an assist in a 4-0 win at Wolves.

“He was sensational, it was almost the perfect midfield performance,” Alan Shearer said on that night’s Match of the Day. “It was incredible. He controlled the game at his pace.”

Reijnders was significantly less sensational for the rest of last season, eventually falling to the bench and often not making it on to the pitch.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah offered £52million for the Netherlands midfielder and City snapped their hands off.

With eight goals in 10 league matches, Reijnders is surely demonstrating that he’s too good for Saudi football. We wonder whether he’ll get itchy feet and return to Europe.

Savio

Getting an initial £75million from Spurs for Savio, a player with two Premier League goals in two seasons, should be worthy of an investigation itself.

There’s probably a talented player, squeezed out by the depth of attacking options at City. And Tottenham are guilty of overpaying for a shiny new toy. But still.

Savio scored and assist on his debut, a 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton, but is yet to do so in the Premier League.

Nico Gonzalez

Alongside Trafford, Nico is one player City may have sold prematurely. Although getting £48million from Newcastle for the midfielder certainly softened the blow.

It’s been an inconsistent start to the Matthias Jaissle era on Tyneside, although Nico has performed admirably and would only improve with more structure around him.