Twelve months ago, Manchester City’s defense and goalkeeper were so formidable that the fans even had a song to celebrate them. The lineup included Ederson, Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and Jack Stones.
Ederson’s consistent performances solidified his place as the goalkeeper, and his crucial role in the Champions League final in Istanbul earned him immense trust from manager Pep Guardiola.
John Stones, by moving into a midfield role, redefined the center-back position. City had long been searching for a reliable left-back until Nathan Ake’s arrival, and Manuel Akanji, bought for a modest £14 million, proved versatile, covering various defensive roles.
Kyle Walker’s situation was uncertain for a while. He didn’t play in the Champions League final and considered a move to Bayern Munich but ultimately decided to sign a new contract with City. He then became the team captain and ended up starting more games than any other defender throughout the season.
However, as Walker turns 34, he has hinted that his playing time might reduce in the coming seasons, raising questions about the future of the right-back position. John Stones, who wasn’t a regular starter towards the end of the season, will need to put in significant effort over the summer to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
Even Ruben Dias found his position under threat. The emergence of new signing Josko Gvardiol and the impressive performances of Ake and Akanji in the latter part of the season saw Dias’ place in the team become less certain.
Guardiola’s philosophy has always been to retain players who consistently perform well, which has caused some unease among the squad’s leadership.
Ederson, the team’s stalwart goalkeeper, has been linked with a potential move away from City, possibly to Saudi Arabia, which could complicate matters for the team.
Backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has expressed a desire for more playing time and hinted at a possible departure this summer, especially as he prepares for the birth of his second child.
Despite his wish to play more, Guardiola has assured Ortega of his continued role as the number two goalkeeper next season. As of now, Ortega hasn’t received any offers that rival what City is offering, but his situation remains in flux.
In the defense, Sergio Gomez appears to be the only player likely to leave. Having played a mere six times in the Premier League, totaling just 47 minutes and averaging 29 minutes per game, Gomez had a largely forgettable season.
At 26 years old, he still has two years left on his contract but is expected to seek more playing time, either through a permanent transfer or a loan move. Gomez is currently the fifth-choice left-back and has struggled to secure a more prominent role on the team. This scenario is unlikely to improve next season.
This overview marks the first part of a three-part review of Manchester City’s squad, focusing on the current status of the goalkeepers and defenders following the 2023–24 season and outlining what they need to do to maintain or improve their positions in the next campaign.
