Honestly, if you look at the Man City roster 2024, it’s kind of a tale of two halves. Everyone focuses on the machine-like consistency of Pep Guardiola’s side, but the 2024-25 campaign has been anything but "business as usual." We’ve seen a massive shift from the Treble-winning era to a squad that's basically rebuilding on the fly.
You’ve got the usual suspects, sure. Erling Haaland is still out there breaking goal-scoring records like they’re made of glass. But the supporting cast? That’s where things get wild. Between high-profile exits like Julián Alvarez and the brutal ACL injury to Rodri, the depth of this roster has been tested in ways we haven't seen in years.
The Rodri-Shaped Hole and the Midfield Shuffle
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. When Rodri went down against Arsenal in September 2024, the entire dynamic of the Man City roster 2024 changed. You can't just "replace" the best holding midfielder in the world.
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Pep has been tinkering ever since. We've seen Mateo Kovačić step into that deeper role, and while he’s been brilliant at driving the ball forward, he doesn't quite have that same "Sheriff" energy Rodri brings. Then there's the return of the king—İlkay Gündoğan. Seeing him back in a City shirt after his year at Barcelona felt like a fever dream, but it was a necessary move. The guy just knows where to stand.
But it's not just the veterans holding the line. Rico Lewis has basically become the Swiss Army knife of this squad. One minute he’s a right-back, the next he’s tucked into midfield creating more chances than most dedicated #10s. By October, he was actually third in the squad for minutes played. That’s insane for a teenager in a Pep Guardiola team.
The New Faces Making Waves
Savinho is the one everyone’s talking about. Coming over from Troyes (via that Girona loan), he’s brought a type of directness that City kinda lacked since Leroy Sané left. He’s not just a "pass and move" guy; he wants to take your ankles.
Then you have the January 2025 arrivals that really bolstered the back half of the season.
- Omar Marmoush: The Egyptian forward came in from Frankfurt and immediately took some of the scoring load off Haaland.
- Nico González: A €60m investment from Porto to help stabilize that midfield.
- Abdukodir Khusanov: A young defensive reinforcement who’s been surprisingly steady.
Why the Attack Still Terrifies Everyone
Even with Julián Alvarez heading to Atlético Madrid for that massive £64.4 million fee, City's attack remains a nightmare to defend. Haaland hitting 100 goals for the club in just 105 appearances is a stat that doesn't even feel real. It’s like playing FIFA on semi-pro.
But look closer at the Man City roster 2024 and you'll see the evolution of Phil Foden. After his Player of the Season run, he’s been asked to carry more of the creative burden, especially with Kevin De Bruyne dealing with his usual "body says no" injury spells. KDB's contract situation has been a dark cloud all season, but even at 80% fitness, he’s still putting balls on a platter.
The "Silent" Contributors
People forget about Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji because they aren't flashy. But honestly? They’re the reason the high line works. Joško Gvardiol has also transformed. He’s gone from a traditional center-back to this marauding left-back who pops up with screamers from outside the box.
And don't sleep on Stefan Ortega. Every time Ederson gets a knock or a Saudi transfer rumor pops up, Ortega steps in and looks like a world-class #1. The distribution is nearly as good, and his shot-stopping is, arguably, better.
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What Really Happened with the Transfers?
There’s a misconception that City just buys everyone. In reality, the 2024 summer was pretty quiet until the Gündoğan opportunity fell into their laps. The big story was the exit of Alvarez. He wanted to be "the guy," and you just can't be that when Erling Haaland is in the building.
The January window was where the board really flexed. Spending nearly £180m mid-season isn't very "City-like" under the recent Era, but the injury crisis forced their hand. Bringing in Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki later for the Club World Cup push showed they knew the original 2024 roster was a bit thin for the new expanded schedule.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking this team, stop looking at the starting XI as a fixed thing. Pep’s 2024-25 tactics have been more fluid than ever because he’s compensating for the lack of Rodri.
- Watch the "Inverted" Fullbacks: Rico Lewis is the key. When he moves into midfield, it frees up Foden or Bernardo Silva to push higher.
- Monitor the Minutes: Keep an eye on Haaland’s workload. Without Alvarez to rotate in, the "Viking" is playing a lot of football, which usually leads to a muscle tweak in late spring.
- The Gündoğan Effect: Notice how City’s tempo slows down (in a good way) when İlkay is on the pitch. He’s the "metronome" that prevents the chaotic transitions that bit them in the 0-4 loss to Spurs.
- Youth Integration: Keep an eye on Oscar Bobb once he's fully back from injury. He was the standout in the US tour and Pep clearly trusts him more than Grealish in tight spaces right now.
The Man City roster 2024 is a team in transition. It’s less of a "perfect machine" and more of a high-stakes chemistry experiment. While they’ve had some uncharacteristic stumbles—like the heavy defeats to Arsenal and Spurs—the sheer quality of the individual pieces keeps them in every title conversation. Whether the new January signings can gel fast enough to save the Champions League campaign is the million-dollar question.
As of early 2026, the strategy seems clear: keep the core, but start injecting younger, more direct players like Savinho and Cherki to prepare for life after the De Bruyne era. It’s a risky pivot, but one that ensures they won't be left behind as the Premier League gets faster and more physical.