Man City spending – Clubs they have paid the most money to in transfer fees in last 20 years

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3 English teams in top 10 

Over the past 15 years, Manchester City have become synonymous with spending money. They were taken over by billionaire Sheikh Mansour and the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, and have spent €2.6 billion since – only Chelsea (€3.1b) have spent more in that timeframe. The club however have had a net spend of just -€56m in the last five seasons, with the team now established as one of the greatest sides English football has ever seen under Pep Guardiola.

In turn, some other clubs have certainly profited from Man City’s lavish spending in the past two decades. But which clubs have the Sky Blues paid the most money to in transfer fees in the last 20 years since the 2004/05 season? Here at Transfermarkt, we have you covered. Five English teams crop up in the top 10. 

Coming in at first place is Aston Villa, whom Man City have paid as much as €168.5m to in transfer fees in the last 20 seasons. That figure is the accumulated fee of six separate deals – the most expensive of which was the club-record €117.5m signing of Jack Grealish in 2021. In second place on the list is Portuguese side Benfica, who have made €131.8m from the Sky Blues for three deals – with the signing of centre-back Rúben Dias contributing for €71.6m of that figure back in 2020.

In third place are La Liga side Atlético Madrid, who have made €121.5m from selling five players to Man City, including the sale of holding midfielder Rodri for €70m in 2019, and legendary striker Sergio Agüero for €40m back in 2011. They are followed in fourth by German outfit Wolfsburg, who have sold just two players to City in the last two decades, but for a combined fee of €113m. In fifth place come Valencia with a total of €108.8m from selling four players. Then it’s Monaco in sixth with a total of €107.5m from selling two players.

In seventh are Borussia Dortmund with €107m made from selling three players to Man City. They are followed by Everton in eighth, with the Toffees having sold three players to the Sky Blues for a combined fee of €98.1m, including the €55.6m sale of John Stones in 2016. Bundesliga side RB Leipzig take ninth place on the list, after selling one player in Josko Gvardiol for €90m. Completing the top 10 are Premier League title rivals Arsenal, who have made €83m from Man City from the sale of five players.