OFFICIAL: Man City complete Omar Marmoush transfer as January spend hits €150m

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 Jan 2025 03:24 CST
• 7 min read

Omar Marmoush has become Manchester City's third major signing of the January transfer window, with the Premier League champions having made the deal official.

Marmoush will cost Pep Guardiola’s side €75 million from Eintracht Frankfurt and follows Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in joining the Etihad club, who have now spent a combined €150m in the transfer window.

The versatile forward, who will turn 26 in the first week in February, has been in electric form in the Bundesliga, where he has scored 13 times and laid on seven more for Frankfurt, earning him a shot at the big time.

READ MORE: Marmoush to Man City - Guardiola's €80m gamble

STATS

Omar Marmoush

F (C)

E. Frankfurt

Omar Marmoush

F (C)

E. Frankfurt

All Tournaments

2024/25

• 24

  Games

• 18

  Goals

• 11

  Assists

View all stats

Indeed, Marmoush has secured his dream transfer. Despite not initially planning to leave Eintracht Frankfurt in January, the Egypt striker felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when Man City came calling.

Personal terms with the Cityzens were not an issue, with Marmoush quickly agreeing to a five-year contract. The 25-year-old is reportedly set to earn a whopping €10m net per season.

The bigger issue Man City faced was striking a deal with Frankfurt, who were reluctant to lose their star striker mid-season. The latter's sporting director Markus Krosche steadfastly demanded an €80 million fee and, after lengthy negotiations, got his wish.

Man City and Frankfurt settled on a guaranteed sum of €75m plus an additional €5m in potential add-ons to make Marmoush one of the most expensive January signings ever.

Marmoush could make his debut for Man City on 25 January in the Premier League against Chelsea if the documents are filed sufficiently quickly.

He has been handed the No.7 shirt, which was previously vacant.

Omar Marmoush: What type of player is he?

Pep Guardiola was desperate to add Marmoush to his squad this month after realising that Man City made a huge mistake by not adequately replacing Julian Alvarez following his summer move to Atletico Madrid.

On paper, Marmoush will massively strengthen the Cityzens, having been the breakout player of this Bundesliga season with a stunning 20 goals and 14 assists in 26 games across all competitions.

With Erling Haaland tied down to a historic contract until 2034, Man City will have one of the most potent strike forces in European football for years to come.

Yet there is a major worry over Marmoush's arrival. He is a player who thrives in transition when he can terrorise defenders with his pace and technical ability, so it will be interesting to see how he will fit into Guardiola's possession-heavy style.

It will also be interesting to see how the Spanish tactician will use the 25-year-old. Marmoush is capable of playing on the wing or as a withdrawn striker/attacking midfielder, so Guardiola won't necessarily have to play with a traditional front two.

Can he solve City’s crisis?

Just why City are splashing out so lavishly this month on the likes of Marmoush was underscored on Wednesday as their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League was put under serious threat as they threw away a 2-0 lead and were outplayed in a 4-2 loss against PSG.

There was a lack of cohesion between the middle and front, and it is hoped that the addition of the sprightly Marmoush may help elevate this area of the team, which looked ageing and slow compared to their hosts at the Parc des Princes.

An expected victory over Club Brugge in Manchester next week will push them through, but the Premier League already looks beyond Guardiola’s side, who surprisingly lie fifth in the standings.

Marmoush, like Khusanov and Vitor Reis, will not be available to play in the Champions League until the knockout rounds – if big-spending Man City even get that far.

There could be more to come from Guardiola's side, too. Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso has been linked with a €65m move before the end of the transfer window.