Manchester City have reached an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The 23-year-old Algeria international is now expected to finalize personal terms and undergo a medical in the coming days. City are hopeful of completing the move ahead of Tuesday’s 7pm registration deadline, which would allow Ait-Nouri to be eligible for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
The agreement includes an initial fee of 31 million pounds, with performance-based add-ons potentially increasing the total to 36.3 million pounds. As part of the deal, Ait-Nouri’s former club Angers – where he began his professional career-are set to receive approximately 9.7 million pounds due to a 50 percent sell-on clause negotiated at the time of his move to Molineux in 2020.
Since joining Wolves, Ait-Nouri has made 157 appearances across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 19 assists. Known for his technical ability, agility, and flair on the ball, the defender has established himself as one of the most dynamic full-backs in the Premier League.
Despite a challenging season for Wolves, Ait-Nouri’s individual form remained strong. He started 37 of the club’s 38 league fixtures, underlining both his fitness and consistency. His four goals and six assists from open play in 2024–25 mark the most productive attacking season of his career to date.
Speaking while on international duty with Algeria, Ait-Nouri remained tight-lipped about the move, saying: “For now, I am focused on the national team. The most important thing is these next two matches. We’ll see how things go after that.”
When asked about Pep Guardiola, he offered a brief compliment: “Everyone knows he is a great coach. But again, my focus is on Algeria at the moment.”
City have been seeking reinforcements in the full-back position following an injury-plagued campaign in that area. Ait-Nouri’s arrival would provide added depth and competition on the left flank, offering Guardiola another attacking outlet down the wing with defensive discipline to match.
The deal represents another example of City’s targeted recruitment strategy – acquiring young, Premier League-proven talent with both immediate impact and long-term value.
