Manchester City players vote for new club captain with five-man leadership group revealed

Manchester City's players and staff have now voted for the club's new captain, following the departure of Fernandinho this summer.

Pep Guardiola's squad have got off to a flying start in the new campaign.

An opening weekend win over West Ham at the London Stadium was followed up by a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere however, the Premier League champions have been awaiting the vote for some time, after their former captain and Manchester City legend Fernandinho brought an end to a nine-year stay at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City vote in a new captain as well as a five-man leadership group, which enables a decision on a matchday captain to be made easily should the club's main leader be absent or not named in the starting XI.

This week, it has now been confirmed that the club's players and staff have made a decision on their five-man leadership group.

As per the information of Mike McGrath at the Telegraph, Ilkay Gundogan has become Manchester City's new club captain.

The Germany international is one of the more senior players in Pep Guardiola's first-team squad, and has played an integral role in their success in the past few seasons.

Gundogan is known to have taken up the captain's armband on several occasions in the absence of Fernandinho in previous campaigns, and seemed like the natural successor to his former teammate this season.

Also from the outcome of the first-team vote, Kevin De Bruyne has been promoted to a role of vice-captain.

As such, the Belgian international will be named as Manchester City's captain should Ilkay Gundogan be absent for whatever reason on a matchday.

De Bruyne is the current longest-serving player within Manchester City's squad following the departure of Raheem Sterling for Chelsea earlier in the ongoing transfer window.

Completing the club's five-man leadership group this season are a selection of defensive-focused players, with Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias complemented by Rodri.

Manchester City are expected to challenge for all honours once again this season.

While the UEFA Champions League continues to evade the club, their main focus will undoubtedly be on securing a fifth Premier League title in the last six seasons.

Next up in the English top-flight, City go up against a Newcastle United side undergoing significant change on and off the pitch, which will certainly be a test for Pep Guardiola and his players.