Man City signing confirmed as Guardiola sends Barcelona €24m

Robin Bairner

• 3 Feb 2025 14:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City’s big-spending January continues, with Fabrizio Romano announcing that the club have effectively completed a fourth major signing of the transfer window.

The defending Premier League champions have secured the signing of Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez for a fee of €60 million, with the Etihad club pressed into matching the release clause of the former Barcelona youngster.

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Current ETV

Nico González

M, DM (C)

Porto

Nico González

M, DM (C)

Porto

€20.9M

ETV Range

€18.9M - €23M

View full profile

FootballTransfers revealed that Pep Guardiola’s side were hoping to do business around the €40m mark for the 23-year-old but they were unable to strike a deal and have elected to match the release clause of the player.

This means that Barcelona stand to benefit to the tune of €24m as they possess a 40% sell-on stake in the La Masia academy graduate.

While it is likely to be too late for the Catalans to benefit from that windfall in January, it will give them more strength to sign in the summer.

READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025 - All the Done Deals

Romano announced the deal on Deadline Day, stating on X: “Nico González to Manchester City, here we go!

“New midfielder for Pep Guardiola as Man City will pay same amount as release clause worth €60m with a different structure.

“Nico, allowed to travel for medical and contract signing soon.”

Nico Gonzalez possesses a similar profile to Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner who City’s side was built around until he suffered a serious injury.

The fortunes of the Etihad side have plummeted since that moment, and while they seemed to be on an upturn, a 5-1 defeat by Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday has left them reeling once more.

City’s unprecedented spending complete

Indeed, Man City have responded to their poor form, which sees them fourth in the table, 15 points off the pace of Liverpool, by embarking on an unprecedented mid-season transfer window that has seen them invest more than €200m in Guardiola’s squad.

Omar Marmoush has been the headline arrival for a potential fee of around €75m, while Abdukodir Khusanov at €40m and Vitor Reis €35m have both arrived at the Etihad Stadium.

Real Valladolid centre-back Juma Bah has also been signed for €6m but has been sent on loan to Lens.

Nico Gonzalez will round out their winter spending, with the €60m fee further evidence of how desperate City have become to turn around their fortunes.