Manchester City have officially completed the signing of attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon, just ahead of the first summer transfer deadline.
The 21-year-old joins City on a five-year contract until 2030, with the Premier League champions paying an initial fee of £30.45 million.
Cherki is eligible to feature in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in the United States on 14 June.
A product of Lyon’s academy, Cherki made his senior debut at just 16 in 2019. He departs the Ligue 1 side after tallying 29 goals and 45 assists in 185 appearances.
The French international has also recently broken into the senior national team, scoring in one of his two caps.
“This is a dream come true,” Cherki said. “Joining a club like Manchester City and having the chance to take the next step in my career here is incredibly special. I’ve worked my whole life for this moment.”
Cherki’s arrival marks City’s third signing in 48 hours. On Monday, Rayan Ait-Nouri joined from Wolves for £31m, and earlier Tuesday, Marcus Bettinelli was brought in from Chelsea as a backup goalkeeper following Scott Carson’s departure.
Reflecting on his move, Cherki added:
“I only would have left Lyon for a project I believe in—and City’s ambition, structure, and coaching under Pep made the decision easy. I love football, and I’m ready to grow, improve, and contribute to the team’s continued success.”
Cherki also impressed on international duty. After helping France win silver at the Paris Olympics, he made his senior debut in the Nations League semi-final last Thursday. Coming off the bench, he scored and assisted in a valiant comeback attempt against Spain, which ended 5–4. He then started in France’s 2–0 win over Germany in the third-place play-off.
City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, praised the signing:
“Rayan is an extraordinary talent. Under Pep’s guidance, we believe he can become a world-class player. This environment will bring out the best in him.”
Meanwhile, Bettinelli, 33, joins after three years at Chelsea, where he made only one appearance following a move from Fulham.
