Pep Guardiola places full confidence in Manchester City's new signings

During a hectic summer marked by numerous newcomers and the exit of core players, Pep Guardiola stated he will settle Manchester City's final roster once the transfer period ends, while showing faith in a young team strong enough to compete over time.

Manchester City is entering a critical phase of the summer transfer window. With six new players having joined and several key figures leaving, Coach Pep Guardiola confirmed he will finalize the squad after the market closes next Monday evening.

It has been a busy summer at Etihad. Four major signings—Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Ait-Nouri—have all had playing time in the recent loss to Tottenham. Pep Guardiola demonstrates a commitment to rejuvenating the squad and building a team for the years ahead. He emphasized: “This will be the squad that sticks together in the future. Once the transfer window closes, we will move forward as one.”

However, uncertainty still lingers. Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan were not included in the matchday squad as City is open to offers for both. Goalkeeper Ederson’s future is also in question as he remained on the bench. Guardiola acknowledged some players might leave in the final week but insisted this does not affect training quality.

A notable bright spot is Nico Gonzalez, who after initial doubts about his future, has secured confidence with steady displays in midfield. Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki, although not yet making a significant impact as a starter, remains protected by the head coach who calls for patience: “He is creative, has great potential, and will continue to develop.”

Pep Guardiola also acknowledged the rapid changes, noting that six current starters only joined in 2025. Despite the loss to Tottenham showing City still needs time to gel, he believes this young squad will form a solid foundation long-term. Between now and the transfer deadline, Manchester City faces both opportunities and challenges to shape a team capable of competing and maintaining top status in the Premier League and Europe.