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Manchester City had a busy January transfer window as they made two notable additions to their first-team squad
Manchester City provided life to an otherwise quiet Premier League January transfer window at the start of 2026 by signing two of the top-flight's most sought after stars. First, the Blues activated Antoine Semenyo's release clause to sign the Bournemouth frontman for an initial £62.5m fee.
The Ghana international has scored four goals in five appearances for City already and, with injuries plaguing the defence, City added Marc Guehi for £20million. City also agreed a number of loan moves for some of their young stars including Divine Mukasa and Stephen Mfuni. However, the big departure was Oscar Bobb who joined Fulham for £27m. Midfielder Kalvin Phillips also left to join Sheffield United on deadline day.
So with all this in mind, MEN Sport has asked its City writers for their thoughts on the transfer window.
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Simon Bajkowski
City wanted Semenyo to help their push for four competitions, and ended up needing Guehi to keep their hopes alive. Both signings were opportunistic yet at the same time they are proven Premier League quality that will count as homegrown and spend the best years of their career at the Etihad.
Semenyo has already started to repay his £62.5m fee after a starring role in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Newcastle and Guehi has Pep Guardiola comparing him to Ruben Dias for his leadership skills, and new teammates likening him to Bernardo Silva. The sale of Bobb was needed given the alarming way he had fallen down the pecking order this season, and the £27m recouped for him will help the balance sheet.
Loan moves for Mukasa and Mfuni are interesting too given how highly-rated they are at the Etihad, particularly given the Championship clubs they have gone to aren't exactly the picture of stable. As assistant Pep Lijnders said last week though, improving the first XI with signings is incredibly difficult at a club like City and they have arguably done it twice this month with players who have had an immediate impact and can strengthen the team and squad for years.
That has to make it an excellent window.
Jeremy Cross
City did outstanding business by signing Guehi in a deal worth up to £30m, while landing Semenyo was also great work. Guehi is currently England's best central defender and nailed on to go to the World Cup.
To sign him so cheaply, considering he is nowhere near his peak yet, should give Guardiola a huge boost. Signing two players who will add youth and talent to the squad and could win City major trophies this season, all for less than £100m, is brilliant business.
Manchester United and City might be neighbours but when it comes to their respective business in the January transfer window, the two clubs might as well have been on different planets.
Jack Flintham
In his first press conference after the January transfer window shut, Guardiola rebuffed the idea that City have been successful merely by spending more money than their opponents. However, knowing when to sell is just as important.
Selling Bobb was a great piece of business in this window. His momentum at City had stuttered and thus a change was needed for all.
It was also pleasing to see Phillips gain the opportunity for regular minutes in the Championship with Sheffield United. As for the incomings, Semenyo and Guehi were arguably the best two players available in January and both became Blues. There's very little to complain about from January if you are a City fan.
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