Manchester City Players: Who Joined During the Controversial Years?

In a surprising twist, none of Manchester City's current players were signed during the period in which an independent commission found the club guilty of violating Premier League financial regulations. These breaches occurred between 2009 and 2018, and Manchester City has firmly denied any wrongdoing, appealing all the charges leveled against them. The club's captain, Ruben Dias, stands out as the longest-serving player acquired from another team, joining from Benfica in 2020. Since then, he has made over 250 appearances for the club. Following Dias is star striker Erling Haaland, who made his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2022. Interestingly, midfielder Phil Foden is the only player who was part of the squad during the time of the alleged financial violations. However, he came through the ranks of the City academy, making his first-team debut in a Champions League match against Feyenoord back in November 2017. Similar to Foden, versatile midfielder Rico Lewis also rose through the youth system but only made his senior debut in August 2022. All other senior players in the current squad were signed after the charges, with arrivals primarily occurring between 2023 and 2026.