AD FEATURE: Man City 2025/26 season preview: odds, prediction and transfers so far

22 hours ago 48

Manchester City are gearing up for a crucial season after what was, by their standards, a somewhat disappointing campaign last time out.

Having won the Premier League title four times in a row between 2021 and 2024, Pep Guardiola’s side fell off the pace last term, finishing third behind Arsenal and eventual champions Liverpool. Now, with a refreshed coaching staff and new faces in the squad, City are determined to reclaim their crown.

With the arrivals of Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders, along with January additions including Omar Marmoush, City look a far stronger proposition heading into the new campaign. There have been notable departures, with long-serving players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker moving on, but key leaders within the group, including Bernardo Silva, remain.

Away trips to Wolves and Brighton and a home fixture against Tottenham headline Manchester City’s opening month, as Guardiola’s side look to wrestle back the Premier League title.

Despite last season’s dip, City remain heavily backed as bookmaker bet365 has them at 7/2 to win the league outright, making them the third favourites, behind only Liverpool (7/4) and Arsenal (9/4). They’re priced at 11/10 to finish in the top two, and 1/4 for a top-four finish, reflecting confidence that they’ll be back challenging for the major honours once again.

Speaking of trophies, the odds very much suggest City aren't going anywhere. They are also 4/5 to win a major trophy this season, whether that be domestically or in European competition.

In terms of individual honours, Haaland is the frontrunner for the Golden Boot at 11/8, ahead of Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, and Arsenal’s new signing Viktor Gyokeres. City’s talisman finished third behind Salah and Isak last season, though that was partly due to the ankle injury he suffered towards the end of the campaign, and even so, he still surpassed 20 league goals.

The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.

As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!

Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.

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The view from our Man City reporter, Simon Bajkowski

For the first time in years, there is value to be found in Manchester City.

Nobody quite knows what happened to them last season - or if they are in for more of the same again. The club have bounced back emphatically in the transfer market, spending over £275m in 2025 in an attempt to get their Premier League crown back.

If anyone is feeling confident enough to think they will win the title, 7/2 are the longest odds they will have had in years. Liverpool and Arsenal are considered more likely to win the league, but anyone bold enough to back Pep Guardiola's side at the start of the campaign could be nicely rewarded at the end of it.

Returns of 4/5 for City to win a major trophy aren't as lucrative but are definitely safer. Even as the Blues were struggling badly last season they still made it all the way to the FA Cup Final and Guardiola's attitude of going hard in every competition means it would be a surprise if they weren't in the mix for at least one trophy over the course of the years.

City don't really do crises like some of their rivals do - last year was their worst for a decade and they still finished third - but a punt of 12/1 for them to finish in the bottom half of the table would see a big win for a bold prediction if it were to come off.