Alious
Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Algerian full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers, marking their second acquisition of the summer transfer window. The deal is reportedly worth an initial £31 million, and the 24-year-old has already completed his medical and given his first interview as a City player.
Aït-Nouri departs Molineux after five seasons, having joined Wolves from French side Angers, initially on loan. His impressive performances last season and his overall development at the club made him one of the more likely candidates to be sold this summer. Despite that, many Wolves fans are understandably disappointed to see him go, as he had become a fan favourite thanks to his flair, agility, and technical prowess.
In his debut interview with Manchester City media, Aït-Nouri disclosed that he had spoken to former Wolves teammate Matheus Nunes prior to finalizing the move. Nunes, who made the same transition to City in 2023, offered some insights — though interestingly, they kept football off the table.
“Yeah, I spoke with him,” Aït-Nouri shared. “We were always together when we were at Wolves. He just told me about the city, about life in Manchester — not football. I’m very excited to join Matheus again.”
Their conversation focused more on lifestyle than tactics, with Aït-Nouri admitting that discussions about football weren’t necessary, as he had already followed City’s progress closely for several years.
City had been monitoring Aït-Nouri for some time, drawn to his technical ability and suitability for Pep Guardiola’s playing style. Despite interest from other Premier League giants like Liverpool and Manchester United, Aït-Nouri made it clear that Manchester City was always his top choice.
“It was one of my goals to play for a club like Manchester City,” he said. “To be honest, my choice from the start was City. I told my family: ‘I want to play for this team. I like how they play, how they develop the game.’”
Aït-Nouri’s smooth transition and professional conduct stand in contrast to the controversial departure of Matheus Nunes, who famously went on strike to force his City move. While Nunes remains a divisive figure among Wolves supporters, Aït-Nouri’s respectful exit may preserve his positive reputation at Molineux despite the sting of his departure.
With the Algerian now reunited with Nunes and stepping into one of football’s most competitive environments, the focus turns to how he will adapt and evolve under Guardiola’s guidance — something Aït-Nouri has clearly long desired.
Alious
