Top 10 Manchester City Best Players - 2025 (Ranked)

When Pep Guardiola set foot in Manchester, the city bubbled with excitement. They had a decade of dominance, and now they enter a phase where they have to rebuild from scratch to set a new crop of Manchester City best players. The team bought players like Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and more as Pep Guardiola looks to establish dominance for the next season. The creative spark left by KDB will hurt the team, but they have enough tools to make the machine work perfectly.

Players like Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Phil Foden remain crucial to the side to get Pep Guardiola back on the Champions podium. Hence, we look at the list of players who are critical for City's resurgence to become a superpower, yet again.

List of Best Manchester City Players Currently

In this list, we look at the players who make a difference to the club heading into the 2025-26 Premier League season. Some of the players remain with the club, but there are some high-profile exits, like KDB and Kyle Walker, and maybe more to follow. They need fresh legs, and we compiled a list of ten players in descending order to understand who the best of the bests is. Just so you know, the appearances are for all competitions for a player. The rest of the statistics are related to their league displays from last season, as we rank the best Manchester City players.

How We Ranked Manchester City Best Players in 2025?

The Man City best player award goes to Rodri. We have ranked the Top 10 players for the 2025 season for Manchester City. With KDB out of the list, we ranked these players using some parameters to clarify who leads the way. So, who is Man City best player now is understood as we ranked these players by using three parameters: Individual Performance (Stats), Impact in big matches, and Versatility and Tactical Flexibility. Here's a complete understanding of how we ranked these players based on these parameters.

• Individual Performance (Stats): One of the critical parameters for determining who is Man City best player now depends on individual performance and stats. The stats clearly show the player's effective displays on the pitch, and the numbers produced give a clearer picture.
• Impact in big matches: Impact in big matches remains another parameter, and we ranked the players according to their sensational impact in high-profile matches. Some players come up big in finals, like Rodri, who displayed his worth during the 2023 Champions League Final. Thus, impact in crucial matches matters.
• Versatility and Tactical Flexibility: A player's tactical flexibility is another critical parameter for ranking the players. The player's ability to play in multiple positions remains an underrated quality for the team and coach. Hence, tactical flexibility helps a coach keep his players intact and make in-game decisions.

Who Is Man City Best Player Now?

The Manchester City best players make the list with their performances they showcase on the turf. Hence, we go down the list of the footballers crucial to Manchester City for the upcoming Premier League campaign.

10. Rayan Cherki (Winger)

Making his debut for Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup, Rayan Cherki showed his quality in four games. He brings a much-needed creative spark to a team that struggled to get going last season. He's versatile and can play around in multiple positions, but he brings his superior quality from the right wing position. Despite initial doubts regarding his work ethic and ability to take his game to the next level, Cherki will be crucial to the club heading forward and is one of Man City best player.

The player cuts inside from the right wing, opens his body up, and produces a magical pass or a stunning goal in his career at Lyon. Plus, the positives remain in his match experience as he started playing at the tender age of 17. Having racked up 185 appearances for Lyon, Cherki created 2.23 chances per 90 at the Club World Cup and showed his creative spark. Thus, for the upcoming season, Cherki remains one of Manchester City best players.

09. Tijjani Reijnders (Central Midfielder)

With Kevin De Bruyne gone and Mateo Kovačić entering his 30s, it's time for Tijjani Reijnders to steal the show. The 26-year-old all-action midfielder played his heart out for AC Milan last season. The Dutch midfielder scored 16 goals last season and arrived at the box late to get a goal or provide an assist. The timing of his runs fetched him goals, and he can form a solid partnership with Rodri when City roar their engines.

Reijnders's pass accuracy was 89.5% last season, which will be critical for Pep Guardiola's possession-based football. Pep Guardiola needed someone from the midfield to carry the ball forward, as Reijnders had progressive carries of 3.00 with AC Milan. He will be a significant part of Manchester City's title ambitions for the upcoming season and is one of the best Manchester City players for the coming season.

08. Ederson Moraes (Goalkeeper)

Joining Manchester City in 2017, Ederson Moraes revolutionized the goalkeeping position in the Premier League. While Manuel Neuer turned the sweeper-keeper role into his own, Ederson took the role to greater heights. His composure and iron-willed personality helped him become a top goalkeeper for City for a long time. Although there were injury concerns and consistency issues last season, he very much remains a top player for the Citizens.

Moreover, his distribution remains second to none, and due to his passing abilities, he can easily play as a deep-lying playmaker. But when his goalkeeping skills come into the picture, his kicking, positioning, and aerial ability remain second to none. But he made two errors, leading to a goal last season, and his concentration levels remain hazy. Yet, he's one of Manchester City best players and is a legend of the club.

07. Josko Gvardiol (Left Back)

Even though Lionel Messi took him to the cleaners at the 2022 World Cup, Josko Gvardiol took it on the chin and worked hard to become a reliable defender. He was one of Man City's best players last year, although the club had a terrible season. Just 23, he's got a lot to learn in terms of defending and other intangibles to become a world-class player. Even with those limitations, Gvardiol's defending prowess cannot be undermined.

He also comes up with goals in crucial moments and scored six in all competitions last time. For a left back, he's got a passing accuracy of 91.4% and certainly loves to create goals and chances for his teammates. Defensively solid as well, Gvardiol will undoubtedly be crucial for the club next season.

06. John Stones (Defender)

If there's one defender who puts the team first rather than himself, it's John Stones. He plays in multiple positions more often, and his versatility makes him undroppable for Pep Guardiola. Although he has a fair share of injuries, Stones' composure and ball-playing abilities from the center back position make him a top player. During the infamous treble season, he played as a Libero, advancing into the midfield and making things tick with his footballing IQ.

The player won 69.2% of his duels last season and often stops his man from getting past him. With 3.63 recoveries, Stones remains a crucial part of City's defense. However, his injury history is an essential aspect of his importance to Manchester City. If he stays, City is a different team. If he's not there, City struggles in defense.

05. Ruben Dias (Defender)

The leader of Manchester City's defense, Ruben Dias, is solid as a rock. He is Portugal's rock-solid center back and Manchester City's termination in defense. As a leader in all senses and a center-back who is still 28, Dias can improve and become a legend at Manchester City. Well, most people state he is a legend, marshaling his defense with his positioning and aerial ability.

Dias was a major contributor to City's treble-winning season and remained a squad leader. He had a passing accuracy of 93.8% and tackles won% of 64.7% showcasing his stunning tackling ability. Thus, he has been Manchester City best players for a long time and will continue to do so for some time around.

04. Bernardo Silva (Attacking Midfielder)

Bernardo Silva, Manchester City's new captain, is one of Man City best player. He remains a tricky customer even at the age of 30. He twists and turns with the ball, and his dribbling abilities and ball control are second to none. However, his productive output was low last season, as he scored just six goals. But his influence is undeniable.

He's one player who is more than goals and assists and contributes completely to the team. Silva's intelligence and ball-carrying ability remain crucial for players to run into channels and receive the ball in full flow. He has 0.94 dribbles per 90 and wins 66.1% of his tackles per 90. Therefore, he is one of the best Manchester City players to play right now.

03. Phil Foden (Attacking Midfielder)

Phil Foden came from the Manchester City youth academy with much fanfare. Now, he's one of Manchester City 7 best players and the team's creative spark. Yet, like most City players, he didn't have a productive output last time around, scoring just 13 goals and six assists in 49 games. Moreover, Foden's ability to pick out creative players remains essential to Manchester City's attack.

Despite all the issues related to his form, he is a superstar player who is Man City best player now. He can play all along the front line, apart from his central position, as the attacking midfielder stitches plays for Manchester City. With the 2025-26 season looking like a blockbuster season, Foden will be crucial to Manchester City's success.

02. Erling Haaland (Forward)

In his first season, Erling Haaland scored 52 goals, 38 goals in his second season, and 34 goals last year. The scoring record is insane for a player who's just 25 and yet to reach his peak. Therefore, his xG for the previous season was 0.72, and he had 1.97 shots on target, which states his importance to the team. Haaland's finishing ability is incredible, and when he's on song, he's one of the best players in the world.

With 34 goals in his last season, most strikers dream of getting those numbers. However, Haaland's standards are top class, and the benchmark he keeps for himself remains elite. Therefore, Erling Haaland would look to replicate his first-season numbers when he takes the turf next time around.

01. Rodri (Defensive Midfielder)

If there is one player who deserves the number one position, even if he was injured, Rodri earns all the plaudits. He's a central defensive midfielder who links defense to attacks and passes the ball perfectly well while not forgetting his defensive capabilities. Without his injury issues, City would have indeed competed for the title and gotten back to the form they displayed in 2023.

Moreover, Rodri's calm demeanor and leadership help the players gain more confidence when he is on the pitch. His intangibles remain a solid area of positivity for the team, and everyone loves to have him on the side. His impact in big matches remains another reason Rodri is ranked. Therefore, Rodri is undisputedly Manchester City best players and the team struggles when he's not on the pitch.