Club publicly announce signing of Man City star - without agreeing transfer fee

A club have confirmed the signing of a Manchester City player - without even agreeing a transfer fee.

It's been a busy start to the summer for the Citizens, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, as Enzo Maresca inherits the challenge of following Pep Guardiola's magical decade at the Etihad Stadium.

Elliot Anderson has completed a British record £116million transfer to Man City from Nottingham Forest, and he's been joined by Mathys Detourbet, who arrived for £21m from Troyes before being swiftly loaned out to Monaco.

City are expected to be busy for the remainder of the window in their pursuit of signings, and the same applies to departures, with the club already waving goodbye to two legends.

Bernardo Silva and John Stones announced their emotional exits earlier this year before departing on free transfers on June 30.

And Nathan Ake is also heading for the exit door.

Ake, who has been playing for the Netherlands at the World Cup, only started six times in the Premier League last term as he fell down the pecking order under Guardiola.

The 31-year-old has long been linked with a departure, and with his contract expiring in June 2027, now felt like the perfect time for City to cash in after six years of service.

Fenerbahce have long been the frontrunners to sign the versatile Dutchman and have since confirmed his arrival. Bizarrely, according to BBC Radio Manchester's Mark Crossley, this announcement came before a deal had even been agreed.

The two clubs were in talks over a transfer but have not yet finalised the details, with a fee of around £7m, potentially rising to £8.5m, being spoken about in discussions.

"Transfer Information. Our club has reached an agreement with Nathan Aké, a player of the Netherlands National Team, and has signed a contract with the footballer," a statement from Fenerbahce's official account read on X.

"Our player, who wore the jersey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will join our team in the Austria camp following the permission process.

"We present this to the information of the public."

Image: Twitter/X/@Fenerbahce

Ake has enjoyed a glittering career at the Etihad, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League across 177 appearances. But it appears he's played his final game for the club following this announcement.

What Pep Guardiola has said about Nathan Ake

While he was used sparingly last term, Ake played a starring role during City's period of dominance, showcasing his versatility as a centre-back and left-back.

As such, Guardiola showcased his appreciation for the Dutch international on several occasions, including in 2022 when he praised him for his reliability.

“He is so reliable,” he said. “Especially when you behave in your life like he does, always you will play good.

“In the bad phases he is always helping. When he doesn’t get the minutes he deserves and then gets the minutes, he’s thinking about the other ones and has done well.

“He is an exceptional person. His mother and father who passed away should be so proud.”

Ake's pending departure after the World Cup means Maresca is left with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi as his main defensive options.