Three Manchester City stars departing the Etihad in summer 2026
Manchester City are bracing for a major shift as the 2026 summer transfer window draws near. It looks increasingly likely that the iconic trio of Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Nathan Ake will wrap up their time at the Etihad Stadium. Even though the club are famous for their deep squad rotation, the confirmed exit of captain Bernardo Silva marks the start of a serious rebuild for the reigning champions.
1. Bernardo Silva:
Bernardo Silva has officially gone on record about his plans to leave Manchester City once this season wraps up. This brings a close to a brilliant nine-year run in Manchester. The Portuguese playmaker recently captained his side to the 2026 Carabao Cup title and is still showing elite fitness levels; he’s covered 327km in the Premier League this season, more than any other player at the club.
Even though he’s still vital to Pep Guardiola’s tactics, the 31-year-old wants to return to mainland Europe rather than move to the Saudi Pro League. Both Barcelona and Juventus are showing strong interest. His exit leaves a huge hole in the midfield, particularly since he moved past club legends like David Silva in total appearances earlier this year.
2. John Stones:
John Stones is still a massive hit with the fans for the way he changed the game as a ball-playing defender. However, persistent injury setbacks have made it hard for Manchester City to keep him in their long-term plans as the 2026 window approaches. Word is that the club’s leadership is finding it tough to offer the 31-year-old a big new contract when he spends so much time on the sidelines.
With City looking to settle younger players like Marc Guehi into the defence, the “Barnsley Beckenbauer” will probably look for a new club where he can get regular game time. Losing him means losing a key leader who was instrumental in the “inverted” system that paved the way for the club’s historic treble.
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3. Nathan Ake:
Nathan Ake is the third name on the list of likely exits. The Dutch international is reportedly building a house near London, which has sparked much talk of a move back to Chelsea. While Ake has always been a dependable presence across the defence, he hasn’t started as much this season, suggesting that both he and the club are ready to move on.
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Since he isn’t playing enough to justify a major contract renewal, Manchester City might decide to sell him this summer to get a decent fee rather than letting his value drop. As a result, the club will be on the lookout for a new left-footed defender to keep up the tactical variety that has allowed City to dominate English football.
