Manchester City may have offered a glimpse into their future defensive setup during the final weeks of the Premier League season, with a centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov earning a consistent run in the side. The duo started the FA Cup final together despite the return to fitness of Ruben Dias and the now-departed John Stones, and they were trusted in crucial matches during the run-in.
Guehi and Khusanov: The New Bedrock
Guehi, 25, is expected to become the cornerstone of City's defence for years to come, while Khusanov, 22, is developing into one of the brightest defensive prospects in English football. The fit-again Josko Gvardiol will also be eyeing a starting spot next season, having agreed a contract extension at the Etihad after transfer interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this summer.
Dias remains at the Etihad, and City are keen to keep the Portugal international, who has also been linked with Real Madrid. The 29-year-old is arguably the leading candidate to succeed his countryman Bernardo Silva as club captain, and his experience is vital in a dressing room that has lost important leaders this summer.
Defensive Depth and Departures
Nathan Ake completes the set of five senior centre-backs, but the Dutchman is entering the final year of his contract and is not expected to be offered a renewal. It is likely that the 31-year-old will depart this summer in search of regular minutes elsewhere. That would open up a fifth centre-back spot at City and offer a hint at how the club views the clutch of young talent at their disposal. City sold Jahmai-Simpson-Pusey to FC Koln in Germany, but they have plenty of other youngsters on the cusp of first-team football.
Academy Prospects: Alleyne and Mfuni
Academy prospects Max Alleyne and Stephen Mfuni are the leading lights from within. Both spent time on loan at Watford last season, and Alleyne was recalled by City amid a defensive crisis at the Etihad, being parachuted into the senior side. He performed admirably in difficult circumstances, having impressed with the Hornets in the Championship. However, another loan spell seems the most likely course for the 20-year-old.
Mfuni also shone at Watford, earning significant praise for his performances before injury curtailed his season. The 18-year-old is highly thought of at the Etihad and has a bright future. Whether that future is in Manchester next season remains to be seen, given City's plethora of options, as the club will welcome back two highly regarded young talents after loan spells on the continent.
Vitor Reis: A Future First-Team Player
Vitor Reis featured for the Blues in pre-season a year ago and spent the campaign at sister club Girona in La Liga. While the season ended in relegation for the Blanquivermells, Reis proved himself more than capable of performing in a leading European league, and games against the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona will have done his development the world of good.
The Brazilian cost City £29.6 million when he joined the club in January 2025, and he is seen as a future first-team player internally, having already made senior appearances in the FA Cup, Premier League, and Club World Cup. He will likely travel to Asia with the first-team squad and have the opportunity to impress incoming boss Enzo Maresca, trying to force his way into the senior set-up.
Juma Bah and Hermann Malonga
That challenge will also face Juma Bah, who returns to the Etihad after a year at Nice in France. He was another involved in a relegation battle, but Nice survived after winning an end-of-season play-off against Saint-Étienne. The 20-year-old made 26 league appearances for Nice as well as playing in the Europa League. Bah has his suitors this summer, and logic puts him behind Reis in the City pecking order. However, a strong pre-season with the Blues could change plans, even if another loan move is the most likely outcome for the Sierra Leone international.
Then there is the new kid on the block: 18-year-old Hermann Malonga, who has arrived at the Etihad from double Champions League winners PSG. He is likely to slot into City's Elite Development Squad next season, at a level equivalent to where he has been playing in France, having signed a long-term contract with the Blues. Malonga was out of contract in Paris and has been capped at youth level by France. The teenager is set to remain with City's Academy next term as he adjusts to life in Manchester, offering him the chance to showcase his credentials.
