Manuel Akanji

Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the purchase of Swiss centre-back Manuel Akanji, per David Ornstein.

It is entirely possible that Ake's recent injury has prompted the club to revaluate their need for an extra centre-back. [Joao Cancelo](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-cancelo/profil/spieler/182712) and Akanji capable of covering for [Kyle Walker](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kyle-walker/profil/spieler/95424), who is unlikely to be starting every game this season due to his age. [Paris Saint Germain Want Bernardo Silva](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/transfer-rumours/report-psg-want-bernardo-silva) [Five Things We Learnt From Manchester City's Draw With Newcastle United](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/five-things-we-learnt-from-manchester-citys-draw-with-newcastle-united) [Manchester City Salvage A Point After Two Goal Setback](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/manchester-city-point-two-goal-setback) [Pep Guardiola Speaks On His Manchester City Future](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/pep-guardiola-speaks-on-his-manchester-city-future) [Dan Burn Believes Manchester City Are The Best Team In The World](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/dan-burn-believes-manchester-city-are-the-best-team-in-the-world) [Manchester City Will Never Be Manchester United Says Gary Neville](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/manchester-city-will-never-be-manchester-united-says-gary-neville) [Raheem Sterling Speaks On Leaving Manchester City](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/raheem-sterling-speaks-on-leaving-manchester-city) [Joao Cancelo Discusses Possibility Of Becoming A Winger](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/joao-cancelo-discusses-possibility-of-becoming-a-winger) The addition of Gomez means that the club also have effective backup to Cancelo on the left side of the defence, should he need to cover for Walker. [David Ornstein](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1564615897557471238), [Pol Ballus](https://twitter.com/polballus/status/1564616498039111681) and [Sam Lee](https://twitter.com/SamLee/status/1564616036321820685) of [The Athletic reporting ](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article)that City are close to reaching an agreement with the Bundesliga club to acquire Akanji's services. Akanji will most likely be fifth choice for the club when they have a fully fit squad and it is incredibly unlikely that you are going to be able to convince a world-class player to take up that role. While many will point to the fact that Akanji hasn't exactly been an elite-level performer in his time with the German club, this seems like a fairly low-risk transfer for City and should provide them with added protection in terms of defensive depth. The Athletic's report states that City believe that a fee of around €17.5million should be enough for Dortmund to part with the defender. And Akanji could prove to be a low-cost backup option for The Cityzens as the Swiss centre-back is heading into the last year of his contract with Dortmund, leaving the selling club with very little leverage in the negotiations as they risk losing the player on a free transfer next summer. [Sergio Gomez](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergio-gomez/profil/spieler/366930) two weeks ago, but reports stating the club are now close to signing [Akanji](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manuel-akanji/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/284730) have seemingly emerged from out of nowhere. [Aymeric Laporte](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aymeric-laporte/profil/spieler/176553) still in the process of recovering from knee surgery. [Josko Gvardiol](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/josko-gvardiol/profil/spieler/475959), [Pau Torres](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pau-torres/profil/spieler/399776) and [Jules Kounde](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jules-kounde/profil/spieler/411975) (who eventually signed for Barcelona) but Akanji's name was never one that was mentioned as a potential target.

City are looking for defensive reinforcements following injuries to Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte.

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Manchester City are close to an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for defender Manuel Akanji. Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing over a ...

[Aymeric Laporte](https://theathletic.com/football/player/aymeric-laporte-Q4uhweZJfdqmC41v/) has yet to make an appearance this season due to injury. [Bundesliga](https://theathletic.com/football/bundesliga/) club with the summer arrivals of Niklas Sule from Bayern Munich and Nico Schlotterbeck from Freiburg. [Manchester City](https://theathletic.com/football/team/manchester-city/) are close to an agreement with [Borussia Dortmund](https://theathletic.com/football/team/dortmund/) for defender Manuel Akanji.

Manchester City are looking to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji in the final days of the transfer window.

With Akanji available for a cut-price fee of around £15m, [as The Athletic first reported](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article), City are hoping to seize the opportunity to bolster their centre-back options. Akanji has been at Dortmund - one of City's Champions League opponents this season in the group stage - for the last four years after joining from Basel and made 36 appearances for them last season. The recruitment team are not finished there though, with an attempt to sign Akanji to join their centre-backs.

Manager Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out making more signings before Thursday's transfer deadline, telling reporters at a press conference on Tuesday: "I ...

[Bernardo Silva](/people/bernardo-silva/) will be staying at Man City, telling reporters: "With Bernardo I said many times how important he is for us. [Erling Braut Haaland](/people/erling-braut-haaland/), [Kalvin Phillips](/people/kalvin-phillips/), [Stefan Ortega](/people/stefan-ortega/) and [Sergio Gomez](/people/sergio-gomez/) all arriving at the Etihad Stadium. [Manchester City](/football/man-city/) are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with [Borussia Dortmund](/football/borussia-dortmund/) over the signing of centre-back [Manuel Akanji](/people/manuel-akanji/).

The Premier League Champions, who have added Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez and Stefan Ortega to their squad already this summer, ...

[Bundesliga](https://www.sportbible.com/bundesliga) appearances, though is yet to feature for [Borussia Dortmund](https://www.sportbible.com/borussia-dortmund) this season. [Erling Haaland](https://www.sportbible.com/erling-haaland). [claim](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article) that the Premier League Champions are close to an agreement for the 27 year-old. [report](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article) that negotiations are ongoing over a €17.5 million deal, with optimism that an agreement will be reached. [report](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article) that Manchester City are close to signing Manuel Akanji as cover. [Aymeric Laporte](https://www.sportbible.com/aymeric-laporte) sidelined due to injury.

Reports surfaced this week stating that Manchester City were interested in Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji who is in the final year of his contract ...

Yet he has a profile that could see him adjust fairly comfortably within the possession-focused system that Guardiola looks to implement, this will be a key reason why he’ll be seen as an ideal backup should he arrive. Again from that group of Bundesliga defenders, he ranked second for having the highest average defensive duel success rate (75.74 per cent). His success rate ranked 60th among the 71 Bundesliga defenders (49.45 per cent). It’s therefore likely that Akanji could be seen as an ideal option to add more depth to that area of the pitch for Guardiola’s men. [Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3549933/2022/08/30/manuel-akanji-manchester-city-dortmund/?source=emp_shared_article), discussions between the two clubs are ongoing, with a potential deal expected to be worth in the region of £15million. Despite this, he still had the second-best pass success rate across the division (92.32 per cent).

Manchester City are on the verge of signing Borussia Dortmund central defender Manuel Akanji thanks to Erling Haaland putting in a good word.

[Aymeric Laporte](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/schnellsuche/ergebnis/schnellsuche?query=aymeric+laporte&x=0&y=0) was ruled out for a further month going into the first game of the campaign. [Erling Haaland](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/erling-haaland/profil/spieler/418560) and Akanji played together at Dortmund and the Norwegian international has convinced the former Basel man to reunite with him at City according to [Manuel Veth](https://twitter.com/ManuelVeth) who also confirmed that the [deal is all but done](https://twitter.com/ManuelVeth/status/1564648309134094336). [Paris Saint Germain Want Bernardo Silva](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/transfer-rumours/report-psg-want-bernardo-silva) [Five Things We Learnt From Manchester City's Draw With Newcastle United](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/five-things-we-learnt-from-manchester-citys-draw-with-newcastle-united) [Manchester City Salvage A Point After Two Goal Setback](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/manchester-city-point-two-goal-setback) [Pep Guardiola Speaks On His Manchester City Future](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/pep-guardiola-speaks-on-his-manchester-city-future) [Dan Burn Believes Manchester City Are The Best Team In The World](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/match-coverage/dan-burn-believes-manchester-city-are-the-best-team-in-the-world) [Manchester City Will Never Be Manchester United Says Gary Neville](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/manchester-city-will-never-be-manchester-united-says-gary-neville) [Raheem Sterling Speaks On Leaving Manchester City](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/raheem-sterling-speaks-on-leaving-manchester-city) [report](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/transfer-rumours/manchester-city-close-signing-manuel-akanji) which came initially from [Sam Lee](https://twitter.com/SamLee) and [David Ornstein](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein) Manchester City have a deal agreed with the German club. [Pep Guardiola](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pep-guardiola/profil/trainer/5672) has made his move for another central defender in [Manuel Akanji](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manuel-akanji/profil/spieler/284730). [Nathan Ake](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-ake/profil/spieler/177476) started with [Ruben Dias](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-dias/profil/spieler/258004) as the partnership but the Dutchman then got injured, something which has made his City career stall over the past two years.

The Premier League champions have already brought in Erling Haaland, Kalvin ...

[Man City](https://www.90min.com/teams/manchester-city) have conceded five goals in their opening four Premier League games - the worst record of the division's current top five - and Guardiola has publicly expressed their need to be better defensively. [Scott Saunders](https://twitter.com/_scottsaunders), [Graeme Bailey](https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey) & [Toby Cudworth](https://twitter.com/Toby_Cudworth) bring you Talking Transfers, discussing Lucas Paqueta's move to West Ham, Chelsea's plans to sign Anthony Gordon, Wesley Fofana and Arsen Zakharyan and the latest from Old Trafford. [Transfers](https://www.90min.com/categories/transfer)

Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji.

The deal came out of the blue today, with Pep Guardiola wanting more cover at the back. [Nathan Ake](https://www.transfermarkt.com/nathan-ake/profil/spieler/177476) may have had something to do with this, with the Manchester City manager possibly wary of the lack of cover at the back towards the end of last season. [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano) via his [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnzd3hUJgVQ) channel Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund to sign Manuel Akanji.

Manuel Akanji is set to have his Manchester City medical today ahead of his proposed move from German club Borussia Dortmund.

The deal has come out of the blue, but Manchester City have been working on it for a week. [ Pol Ballus ](https://twitter.com/polballus)of [the Athletic,](https://twitter.com/TheAthleticUK) Manuel Akanji is set to have his Manchester City medical today ahead of his move from Borussia Dortmund. [Manuel Akanji ](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manuel-akanji/profil/spieler/284730)will have his medical today ahead of his move from Borussia Dortmund.

Manchester City agree £17m deal with Borussia Dortmund for centre-back Manuel Akanji, who is in the UK to undergo a medical with the Premier League ...

You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News. Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake have competed for minutes but the latter is also currently sidelined. Manchester City agree £17m deal with Borussia Dortmund for centre-back Manuel Akanji, who is in the UK to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions; Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out making more signings in the final days of the transfer window

Welcome to Manchester, Manuel Akanji, one of the more unexpected Manchester City signings of recent times.

He is said to be a very likeable, intelligent person — he can multiply numbers between 11 and 99 in an instant — and how he fits into the squad is going to be very important, especially if not playing a lot of games. Dias had similar problems at the back end of last season and City do not want a repeat, especially as Ake and Stones also missed crucial matches. Quite where everybody fits in if and when all five centre-backs are fit at the same time remains to be seen, so too how Guardiola manages to keep them all happy. “One of the things I ask the sporting directors of the club is, ‘How is he as a person?’. At that point, City’s seven would have been [Kyle Walker](https://theathletic.com/football/player/kyle-walker-0ZTVFCfiA5I3chgf/), [Ruben Dias](https://theathletic.com/football/player/ruben-dias-wK7ODbZoBLDKjyGo/), [John Stones](https://theathletic.com/football/player/john-stones-Qco6BKmHmB44RMjL/), [Aymeric Laporte](https://theathletic.com/football/player/aymeric-laporte-Q4uhweZJfdqmC41v/), Ake, [Joao Cancelo](https://theathletic.com/football/player/joao-cancelo-DqAZsiQhMhVRaImK/) and Cucurella. For example, one of the reasons they went with “As Akanji is fluent in German, Italian and French and knows conversational English, we expect he will be able to speak a common language with 17 members of this team (languages inferred based on career history and nationality). “In terms of tactical fit, he would maybe have to adapt to a higher line and higher press,” Sentient Sports says. [Marc Cucurella](https://theathletic.com/football/player/marc-cucurella-HjRBGZc2KN43b1sK/) started the summer as one of City’s top targets, with [Oleksandr Zinchenko](https://theathletic.com/football/player/oleksandr-zinchenko-MS8PfOpWPUopegk6/) expected to leave. [Sevilla](https://theathletic.com/football/team/sevilla-fc/)’s Jules Kounde. They had hoped to have sold him much earlier in the summer but his wage demands had proven prohibitive for other suitors. Last Friday, he said: “We thought about (signings) but Ake is coming back soon, at the end of September or early October.