Since Sheikh Mansour took over at the Etihad, his investment in big-money signings has transformed Man City into a heavyweight of world football
Manchester City have been transformed into a global heavyweight since the arrival of Sheikh Mansour, with big-money being pumped into a squad that now has three Premier League titles to its name. Who, though, are the club’s most elaborate purchases? Goal takes a look at the top 10…10Sergio Aguero | £38 million
Considered to be quite a coup for City when they flexed their financial muscles in 2011 to land one of the deadliest strikers on the planet from Atletico Madrid.
The Argentina international settled immediately in new surroundings, netting twice on his debut, and has now found the target 199 times in just 292 appearances. Last season he became City's all-time leading goalscorer, and his name was already written in City folklore after scoring a last-gasp goal to snatch the title away from Man Utd in 2011/12.
AdvertisementGetty Images9Eliaquim Mangala | £42 million
The France centre-back joined City in 2014 but only ever showed glimpses of his ability as he struggled to lead the defence in the way which was expected when he signed from Porto.
His fee was initially reported as £32m but City later confirmed that they had also paid £10m to third parties to comply with Premier League regulations.
Mangala has been a bit-part player for Guardiola and is likely to leave the club this summer, after spending the second half of the last campaign on loan at Everton.
Getty Images8Bernardo Silva | £43 million
After struggling to make an impact at boyhood club Benfica, he saw his potential unlocked in France with Monaco to earn himself a big-money move to England in the summer of 2017.
Only three players under the age of 23 provided more assists in the 2017-18 season, but the Portugal international was overshadowed somewhat by the exploits of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling in his first year at City after starting just 15 of his 35 league appearances.
Getty Images7Raheem Sterling | £44 million
Completed a controversial switch to the Etihad Stadium in 2015 after making it clear to those at Liverpool that he no longer wished to be part of the project at Anfield.
Has faced accusations of lacking an end product at times, but reached double figures in terms of goals scored in his first two seasons at the Etihad and pushed on again in 2017-18 under Pep Guardiola, grabbing 23 goals in all competitions which saw him nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.
The 23-year-old was scrutinised again in the lead up to the World Cup after it was revealed he has a tattoo of a rifle on his leg, but he has been an influential figure for England in Russia.