The 2025–26 season was the 131st season in the existence of Manchester City Football Club and their 24th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. In addition to the domestic league, Manchester City also participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League, entering the latter for the 15th consecutive season.
This was the club's first season since 2014–15 without midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who departed for Napoli following the expiration of his contract, and the first season since 2016–17 without Kyle Walker (to Burnley) and Ederson (to Fenerbahçe). Bernardo Silva was named as the club's new captain after Walker's departure. This also marked the first campaign since 2020–21 which Manchester City did not enter as reigning Premier League champions.
On 17 March, City were beaten 5–1 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League to end their participation in this season's competition. On 22 March, they won 2–0 against Arsenal to win the EFL Cup for the first time in five seasons. Pep Guardiola also became the first manager to win the competition on five occasions. On 16 May, City won 1–0 against Chelsea, to win their eighth FA Cup title in a record-breaking fourth consecutive final appearance. On 19 May, a 1–1 draw away to Bournemouth in their penultimate game of the season meant City ended their title race as league runners-up to Arsenal.
On 22 May, the club announced that Pep Guardiola would be stepping down as manager at the end of the season after ten years. At the time, he was the club's most successful manager in their history.
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Season summary Pre-season The revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup spanned the period between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 English football seasons. City's involvement in this competition is documented on their 2024–25 season page.
It had been anticipated that City's squad would need a major overhaul in the summer to remain competitive at the highest level after a trophyless season. While this transition began in the previous January transfer window, further changes were expected, particularly in midfield, at full-back and potentially at centre-half if the club chose to offload some of their aging and injury-prone players. Between 9 and 11 June, the transfers of left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers; midfielders Tijjani Reijnders from Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon; and of back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea were duly completed in time for the players to join the squad for the Club World Cup at a total estimated cost of £112 million. Goalkeeper and former Manchester City EDS player James Trafford also rejoined the club from Burnley for £31 million, after the Club World Cup. Key departures included Jack Grealish, who was sent on loan to Everton. The full squad regrouped for pre-season training at the City Football Academy on 28 July 2025. Fans were welcomed back through a City Are Back open training session at Joie Stadium on 5 August, providing supporters the first chance to see the new signings in action.
On 7 July 2025, Manchester City announced a friendly against sister club Palermo to contest the inaugural Anglo-Palermitan Trophy. On 2 August, a behind-closed-doors friendly at the City Football Academy against Preston North End was played, ending in a 1–0 win thanks to a goal from Rico Lewis. On 9 August, City's single open, full-match friendly against Palermo resulted in a convincing 3–0 victory.
Start of season Manchester City launched their league campaign with an emphatic 4–0 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 16 August 2025. Erling Haaland continued his tradition of scoring on opening days, netting a brace with goals in the 34th and 61st minutes. Tijjani Reijnders, making his Premier League debut, scored one and was instrumental in both of Haaland's goals–delivering a dynamic and influential performance.
City next faced Tottenham Hotspur at the City of Manchester Stadium on 23 August. Tottenham secured a 2–0 victory, with goals from Brennan Johnson in the 35th minute and João Palhinha in first-half stoppage time(45+2). Tottenham's disciplined defence and pressing game under their new manager Thomas Frank proved decisive.
On 31 August, Manchester City suffered a 2–1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Community Stadium in the Premier League. Despite taking the lead through Erling Haaland in the 34th minute—his 88th goal in 100 league appearances—City were undone in the second half. Former Blue, James Milner, equalised from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after a hand-ball from Matheus Nunes, and Brajan Gruda netted the winner in the 89th minute following a late surge by Brighton. The loss marked City's second consecutive league defeat, raising concerns about their early-season form.
On transfer deadline day, 1 September 2025, Manchester City concluded several significant moves. The most notable was the signing of Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £26 million, intended to succeed Ederson, who departed for Fenerbahçe after eight seasons at the club. Other key exits included İlkay Gündoğan to Galatasaray and Manuel Akanji on loan to Inter Milan.
Following the September 2025 international break, Manchester City recorded consecutive victories. On 14 September, City defeated Manchester United 3–0 at home in the Premier League, with goals from Phil Foden and a brace from Erling Haaland. Four days later, on 18 September 2025, City beat Napoli 2–0 in their opening UEFA Champions League league stage match. Haaland scored his 50th goal in the competition in his 49th appearance, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone, while Jérémy Doku added the second against the Italian side, who played most of the match with ten men.
Autumn period Manchester City resumed their league campaign on 21 September with a 1–1 draw at Arsenal. Erling Haaland put City ahead after nine minutes, but Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser(90+3) rescued a point for the hosts. Three days later, on 24 September 2025, City advanced in the EFL Cup with a 2–0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the third round, as Phil Foden opened the scoring and Savinho doubled the lead. This was followed up with an emphatic 5–1 Premier League victory over Burnley on 27 September. The match featured two own goals from Maxime Estève, an injury time brace from Haaland, and a strike from Matheus Nunes, while Rico Lewis marked his 100th senior appearance for the club. This result left City in seventh place and five points behind early leaders and defending champions Liverpool.
In their second match of the Champions League league phase, City drew Monaco 2–2 away from home. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before Jordan Teze equalised three minutes later. Despite City taking a 2–1 lead into half-time thanks to another Haaland header, they were unable to maintain their advantage as Eric Dier converted a late penalty to secure a point for Monaco.
A further Haaland goal and a 1–0 away win at Brentford on 5 October meant City went into the second international break in fifth place, just three points behind new league leaders Arsenal. Haaland's 12 goals in nine appearances so far this season had elevated him to the top of the European Golden Shoe standings alongside Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, and into the list of the top 10 all-time City goalscorers after just over three seasons at the club.
Returning to domestic competition, City extended their winning run with a 2–0 home victory over Everton on 19 October, with Haaland reaching double figures for league goals. Three days later, City recorded another 2–0 win away to Villarreal, moving into seventh place in the Champions League league standings. At this point, Haaland had scored in 12 consecutive appearances for club and country. This streak, and the club's winning streak, ended soon after with a 1–0 away defeat to Aston Villa, marking the third consecutive season that City had lost this fixture. By the end of October, City sat fifth in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Blues started November with a 3–1 win against Bournemouth at home, with Haaland pushing his goal tally to 13 in the Premier League. In the second half, Nico O'Reilly registered his first goal of the season with a composed left foot shot into the bottom right corner. Before the November international break, City defeated Liverpool 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium in what was Pep Guardiola's 1000th game in football management. Although Erling Haaland's early penalty was saved by Georgian backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, he later opened the scoring with a header. Nico González and Jérémy Doku added further goals from outside the penalty area. The result left City second in the league standings, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
After the November international break, Manchester City returned to Premier League action with a 1–2 away defeat to Newcastle United. A long-range strike from Harvey Barnes in the 63rd minute put Newcastle ahead, but Rúben Dias equalised shortly afterwards with a volley. City's hope of a comeback ended when Barnes struck again in the 70th minute, with the goal confirmed only after a VAR review for offside.
In the Champions League, City lost 0–2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Guardiola made ten changes to his starting XI for the match, and the German side took the lead through Álex Grimaldo in the 23rd minute, with Patrik Schick doubling the advantage early in the second half to complete a surprise win.
The Blues responded with a 3–2 victory over Leeds United. Phil Foden scored after just one minute, and then struck again in stoppage time to prevent a Leeds comeback and secure all three points for City.
Christmas and New Year period City began their busy December schedule with a 5–4 away win against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 2 December 2025. Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal — becoming the fastest player to reach that mark in just 111 appearances — and Phil Foden scored twice as City moved within two points of the league leaders, before holding on following a late Fulham fightback after they had led by four goals.
On 6 December, City recorded a 3–0 home win over Sunderland in the Premier League, with goals from Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol and Phil Foden, narrowing the gap to the top of the table.
In the Champions League on 10 December, the Blues secured a 2–1 victory at Real Madrid in the league phase, coming from behind with an equaliser from Nico O'Reilly and a Haaland penalty to take the win at the Santiago Bernabéu.
On 14 December, Manchester City continued their Premier League campaign with a 3–0 away win against Crystal Palace, with Haaland scoring twice and Foden adding a goal to keep pressure on league leaders Arsenal.
City’s festive run concluded with mixed results at the start of 2026. A 0–0 draw away to Sunderland on New Year’s Day halted their winning momentum after eight consecutive victories in all competitions; before two consecutive 1–1 home draws against Chelsea and Brighton on 4 January and 7 January respectively saw City drop further ground in the title race; conceding a 94th-minute equaliser in the former fixture. Despite scoring first and dominating possession and territory in both games, Guardiola’s side were unable to convert their chances, leaving them second in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Arsenal after 21 matches. Preparations also continued for the upcoming EFL Cup semi-final against Newcastle United, following December’s 2–0 quarter-final victory over Brentford.