Manchester City are closing in on a deal to bring Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri to the Etihad in a transfer worth £31 million, including £5 million in add-ons.
The 24-year-old Algeria international is expected to undergo a medical over the weekend, with the move nearing completion.
City are aiming to wrap up the transfer by 10 June to ensure Ait-Nouri can be registered for the Club World Cup group stage.
Ait-Nouri has emerged as Pep Guardiola’s top choice to resolve City’s ongoing issues at left-back, a position lacking a natural occupant since Benjamin Mendy’s last appearance in August 2021.
Since Mendy’s departure, City have shuffled several players into the left-back role, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joao Cancelo, and Josko Gvardiol.
Most recently, academy prospect Nico O’Reilly was deployed there during the latter stages of the 2024-25 season, including the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.
Manchester City and Wolves have agreed a deal for defender Rayan Ait-Nouri 🚨 pic.twitter.com/EWddeL8OCD
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 7, 2025
Guardiola has been seeking a long-term solution, and Ait-Nouri, who impressed for Wolves last season, appears to fit the bill.
Ait-Nouri originally joined Wolves on loan from Angers before making the move permanent for £14.9 million in 2021. He featured 41 times in all competitions last season, registering five goals and seven assists, playing a key role in helping the club avoid the drop.
His impending exit marks the second major departure from Wolves this summer, following Matheus Cunha’s move to Manchester United.
The arrival of Ait-Nouri would add to City’s early summer activity, which already includes a £46.3 million agreement to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.
