Top 10 Best Man City Players of All Time (Ranked)

The reigning English Premier League champions, Manchester City, have relished a meteoric rise in the past decade, establishing themselves as one the most successful football clubs in the world, with Pep Guardiola guiding them to unprecedented success. The Citizens have had some great players, who gave their best on the field to lead the club to triumph throughout their history.

The club’s foundation was laid in the year 1880. Since then, Man City has been crowned as the English top division winners 10 times, including an incredible four successive Premier League titles, eight English League Cups, seven FA Cups, and as many Community Shields. The 2022/23 campaign will be embedded in golden letters in the club’s history book as they marked their first-ever continental treble glory, securing their first UEFA Champions League trophy, Premier League, FA Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

Much credit for their recent success goes to City Football Group, the UAE-based consortium, who injected insane cash flow into the club to bring an immense wave of success, in addition to the Financial Fairplay charges (FFP), of course. Nevertheless, Man City’s exceptional performance and dominance on the field domestically and in Europe have been acclaimed globally.

The iconic Etihad Stadium is where the world-class Man City players take the field for their home matches. That being said, we are going to explore the top 10 best Man City players of all time.

Ranking Factors

Longevity: The primary ranking aspect that we are looking for is their tenure with Man City while donning the customary sky-blue shirt. It reflects the longevity and durability of their spell in Manchester.

Impact: Any player’s impact in bringing triumph to the team with their individual brilliance and key performances on the pitch. Statistics like goals, assists, clean sheets, and appearances are also taken into account.

Achievements: The number of trophies, titles, and honors a Man City player has raised during their time with the European giants. Trophy count and personal accolades are also vital factors in defining the rankings of these phenomenal players.

10 Best Ever Man City Players

10. Mike Summerbee (England)

Mike Summerbee was the first signing of the Joe Mercer era at Man City. The Englishman was amongst the early heroes of the club during their early golden years, earning the nickname ‘Buzzer’ for his explosiveness, speed, dribbles, and aggressiveness on the right flanks. The right winger nearly made over 400 appearances for them and won five major silverware including the English First Division, FA Cup, Community Shield, and European Cup-Winners’ Cup. Summerbee has gracefully earned his place as one of the best-ever Man City players of all time.

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9. Fernandinho (Brazil)

One of the best defensive midfielders and Brazilians to play in the Premier League, Fernandinho was a pivotal figure in leading the club to domestic triumphs. The Brazilian lifted the league title five times and six League Cups during his time with Man City. He prominently held the command of the club’s midfield unit playing as the holding midfielder, and also switched to the back-line for centre-back duties when needed. Fernandinho was praised for his dedication and work rate but, unfortunately, failed to lead his side to European glory as captain, losing the final against Chelsea in 2021.

8. Erling Haaland (Norway)

Out of all the notable figures on this list, the Norwegian striker has spent the least time in the Sky Blue shirt, but he has still cemented his place on this list with his remarkable contributions in such a short period. In 2022, Erling Haaland signed for the English giants from Borussia Dortmund and went on to document a record-breaking 2022/23 debut campaign. The prolific marksmen racked up 52 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions and helped his side to secure their first-ever treble glory. Meanwhile, Haaland has already crossed the 100-goal mark for Man City and continues to impress with his eye for goals.

7. Colin Bell (England)

Arguably one of the greatest Man City players ever, Colin Bell was dubbed “The King of the Kippax” for his heroics at Maine Road stadium. Even so, the club dedicated a stand to his name at the Etihad Stadium. Bell spent 13 years with the club he loved and cherished while playing a significant role in the success of Man City in the 1960s and 70s. He boasted the figure of a cult hero in front of the fans and lifted several domestic titles, such as the English First Division, FA Cup, League, and more. While making over 400 appearances coupled with 137 goals overall as a midfielder.

6. Rodri (Spain)

Next up on the list of best Man City players, we have the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who etched his name in history by becoming the first and only City player to have claimed the highly coveted individual honor to date. The ace Spanish midfielder has been an integral part of the club’s recent dominance and was the best midfielder in the world in 2024. Pep Guardiola’s side becomes unbeatable when Rodri operates in the middle as the formidable figure. He scored the winner in the Champions League final and led the English outfit to taste their first European glory after playing a key role in City’s historic treble-winning 2022/23 season.

5. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Yaya Toure is recognised as one the best African players of all time courtesy of his glittering career with both clubs and country. However, it was at Man City where he enjoyed the best years of his career. Yaya Toure arrived from Barcelona in 2010 and swiftly made a name for himself in the English Premier League, earning shouts of being amongst the best the league has ever seen. He was an imposing figure in the middle of the park, displaying his control, strength, speed, and power in attacks. The African icon, Yaya Toure had won three Premier League trophies with the Sky Blues.

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4. Vincent Kompany (Belgium)

Another Belgian icon on our list is the former Man City skipper and legend Vincent Kompany. He ranks high in this list of the greatest Man City players courtesy of his unwavering influence and success with the club. The legendary center-back was one of those names who played a significant role in shaping the club’s future after the City Football Group acquired Man City, having arrived in 2008. The Belgian International was the leader on the pitch, wearing the captain’s armband, and witnessed 12 major title wins as a City player.

3. David Silva (Spain)

Nicknamed “El Mago” (the magician), David Silva is undoubtedly one the best Spanish midfielders and most loved players to have represented the club. The Spaniard and Man City seemed like a match made in heaven following his move to the club. Silva played a vital part in the rise of the club from an average English club to a European powerhouse. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner is one of the best attacking midfielders of all time; he was truly gifted with exceptional creativity, vision, passing, and technicality. His contributions in transforming the club cannot go unnoticed and therefore, Silva is one the best ever Man City players in history.

2. Sergio Aguero (Agrentina)

One of the finest Argentine players of all time, Sergio Aguero, is second on our list of best Man City players of all time. Aguero’s iconic last-minute winning goal against QPR in 2012 to seal their first-ever Premier League silverware after 44 years is amongst the most iconic moments in football history. It marked the beginning of Man City’s golden period domestically. The forward is the all-time top scorer of the club after finding the back of the net 260 times and becoming a legend of the club. The former Atletico Madrid man also became a five-time Premier League champion in a decade-long stay at the club. Man City have dedicated a special sculpture outside the Etihad Stadium in honor of the ‘93:20’ moment of the 2011/12 season.

1. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Kevin De Bruyne is viewed as one of the best Premier League midfielders in history for his accomplishments in Sky Blue’s colors. The Belgian International has been exceptional for them with his superior playmaking skills, vision, and ability to pick passes with sheer accuracy, which is what makes him one of the finest attacking midfielders of this generation. De Bruyne has scored 106 goals, providing 176 assists in a total of 413 appearances, while claiming a staggering six English league titles, five FA cups, and two EFL Leagues cups. However, the Belgian maestro is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, ending his 10-year glorious stint with the English giants.

List of 10 Best Ever Man City Players

Rank	Player	Position	Spell at Man City
1	Kevin De Bryune	Attacking Midfielder	2015–2025
2	Sergio Agüero	Striker	2011–2021
3	David Silva	Attacking Midfielder	2010–2020
4	Vincent Kompany	Centre-Back	2008–2019
5	Yaya Touré	Midfielder	2010–2018
6	Rodri	Defensive Midfielder	2019–present
7	Colin Bell	Midfielder	1966–1979
8	Erling Haaland	Striker	2022–present
9	Fernandinho	Defensive Midfielder	2013–2022
10	Mike Summerbee	Winger	1965–1975

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