Manchester City have been handed a significant punishment after accepting 10 separate Premier League rule breaches.

City have been locked in a legal battle with the Premier League over 115 charges relating to financial rule breaches, with a private hearing into the matter being held in December.

A separate legal matter saw City challenge the legitimacy of the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners which are deemed to be above ‘fair market value’.

In basic terms, the 2023 Champions League winners claimed victory as the APT rules in their previous form were found to be unenforceable, but the Premier League argued that the decision does not impact the current APT rules as clubs voted them into force in November 2024.

But a lesser-known third case has been playing out between the two parties – with City now accepting that they breached a strict Premier League rule on 10 different occasions during the 2024/25 campaign.

The club breached Rule L33 in relation to kick-off and restart obligations in nine different matches during the season.

It was found that City delayed the beginning of the second half by between one minute and 18 seconds and two minutes and 24 seconds on each occasion.

They have been fined a total of £1.08 million for the 10 breaches, with the highest individual punishment being a £210,000 fine for starting the second half two minutes and 22 seconds late in an away fixture against Ipswich.

Two of the breaches relate to one match – the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United in December – meaning it is classed as a singular breach.

A Premier League statement on the matter reads: “The Premier League and Manchester City have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Rule L.33 in relation to kick-off and restart obligations.

“The breaches occurred in nine Premier League matches during the 2024/25 season.

“Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs. It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.”

City have ‘accepted and apologised’ for the breaches, the Premier League also state, and have ‘reminded the club’s players and football management teams of their responsibilities in complying with Rule L.33’.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

 Manchester City have been busy so far during the 2025 summer transfer window.

Pep Guardiola is looking to rebuild his squad in Manchester ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with everything now in place for Man City to sign Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The middle of the park is set to be the main focus of the rebuild at the Etihad Stadium, however, there are other areas the Manchester club are looking to address, as City are also pushing to sign Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri for the left-back role in their team.

With Man City keen to get both of these deals done soon, another has moved closer to its completion, as the Premier League giants have now agreed personal terms with one of their top targets.

Man City agree personal terms with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki

It was reported this week that Cherki had already given Man City the green light to complete a move for him this summer as the French star is keen to play for the Manchester club next season and beyond.

Fabrizio Romano has reported on Wednesday that Man City and Cherki have now reached an agreement on personal terms, with an official bid expected to be presented to Lyon in the next few hours in order to get the transfer over the line.

This is big news for City as, similar to Reijnders, Guardiola is hoping to have the 21-year-old with him when the Manchester club travel to America this summer for the FIFA Club World Cup.

The main issue in the Cherki deal until now has been the transfer fee, as Lyon do not plan on doing any of the interested parties a favour this summer, despite the midfielder having just one year remaining on his current deal.

What Man City will need to pay to land Rayan Cherki

Heading into the summer, it was reported that it would cost £25m to sign Cherki from Lyon, as that was believed to be the release clause in the midfielder’s current contract.

However, that is not the case, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Cherki’s release clause is a complicated one, and it looks like Man City will need to pay more than the previously reported fee.

This week, it was reported that Lyon have already set their asking price, which is currently at £34m, therefore, City should find it easy to sign the 21-year-old once this is matched.

This is still a bargain for a player with the quality and potential of Cherki, which will only grow during his time working with Guardiola.

Man City should now follow up Tijjani Reijnders deal by hijacking ‘unexpected’ exit at AC Milan

Manchester City are very close to officially announcing the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.

City have been pushing hard for the Dutch star over the last week as the English giants were keen to add the midfielder to their squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, and it was reported on Wednesday that everything is in place for Man City to complete the signing of Reijnders.

Throughout the last few months, the Manchester club have built up a good relationship with AC Milan, not only through the Reijnders deal, but also with Kyle Walker joining the Serie A club on loan in January.

Man City should now use this relationship to their advantage and hijack Chelsea’s pursuit of a key Milan star, who would be a great replacement for a big potential exit at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Man City should hijack Chelsea’s move for Mike Maignan

Ben Jacobs reported on Tuesday that Mike Maignan is open to a move to Chelsea this summer following positive talks with the Premier League club, and he could be signed for just £20m-£25m ahead of the new season.

Milan missing out on Europe has presented the Blues with this “unexpected market opportunity” and Jacobs states that things could now move fast as the London club are expected to submit an offer.

This is a move Man City should consider hijacking as Maignan would be the perfect replacement for Ederson as the Brazilian’s future at the Etihad remains up in the air.

Pep Guardiola recently stated that Ederson would remain in Manchester next season, however, the Man City star is still open to a move to Saudi Arabia.

Should a big offer arrive from the Saudi Pro League, City are likely to accept it, but that is unlikely to happen before the FIFA Club World Cup, which is why Guardiola should pounce on the opportunity that has emerged out of AC Milan.

How Mike Maignan compares to Ederson

Maignan is considered by many as a better goalkeeper than Ederson, as the 29-year-old has emerged as one of the best shot-stoppers in the sport in recent years.

The two goalkeepers are similar in ways as both are very good with their feet, the Brazilian being the better of the two, while shot-stopping is not a problem for the duo, an area where the French international trumps the Man City star.

The stats show that Maignan is just as capable with his feet as Ederson, which would be a big attraction for Guardiola, while the AC Milan star has performed better in several other areas than the Brazilian throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

With Man City needing a rebuild this summer, £25m for Maignan would allow Guardiola to address a key area with a quality player, while saving money to strengthen the other areas in his team needing attention.

The Manchester club should seriously consider hijacking Chelsea’s move for the AC Milan star; however, the biggest problem for City is time.

Man City fans are in agreement about Tijjani Reijnders after Fabrizio Romano confirms signing

Tijjani Reijnders looks set to become Manchester City’s first signing of the summer.

Reijnders could join Manchester City for £58 million and the deal could be completed on Wednesday.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the AC Milan midfielder’s imminent addition as well, confirming that a deal was almost done on Tuesday itself.

Man City fans rave about Tijjani Reijnders as he’s set to seal Etihad move

One Manchester City fan simply reacted to the latest news surrounding Tijjani Reijnders by writing: “We signed the best midfielder in Europe.”

A second supporter described the 26-year-old as an “elite midfielder”, stating: “We’ve signed an elite midfielder. I recognise my club.”

A third Manchester City fan claimed that the Sky Blues will win the quadruple next season with Reijnders at their disposal: “We just signed the best midfielder in the world. We are winning the quadruple next season.”

Another fan pinpointed that while there is room for improvement for the Dutchman in terms of winning duels in the middle of the park, he would be an excellent addition for Pep Guardiola’s men: “As I watch his tape, Reijnders doesn’t look too imposing in duels/riding contact at times. Otherwise, top class passer of the ball particularly from the left-hand side, has shown potential to dictate games for the Netherlands, good engine, scores goals. Really great signing.”

A fifth supporter replied: “Chuffed about this one compared to the other signings we’re linked to. One out of three or one of two of the midfield rebuild is sorted. Rodri and Reijnders is gonna be a beautiful sight.”

Finally, a sixth City fan compared Reijnders’ potential signing to that of Omar Marmoush, who has impressed for Manchester City: “Reijnders is in that Marmoush range of signings. World-class players that are in the top 10 in their positions and can help the team right after coming. Always good having confirmed players and not gambling, I’m actually happy, best signing [alongside Omar] since [Josko] Gvardiol.”

How Pep Guardiola feels about Tijjani Reijnders behind the scenes

With more signings looking like they could be on their way, the Etihad Stadium looks like a happy place to be.

Rayan Cherki looks set to join Manchester City.

Rayan Ait-Nouri, who Guardiola has liked since 2020 could follow the Frenchman as well.

It is clear to see that this summer, City mean business.

Regarding Reijnders, while the overwhelmingly positive verdict from Manchester City fans is worth its weight in gold, Pep Guardiola’s opinion means more than most.

Guardiola loves Reijnders and believes that he is the perfect addition in the number eight role.

Pep Guardiola has a lot of faith in Reijnders as a player, to the point that he is believed to be of the opinion that the Dutch international could lead Manchester City to the Premier League title.

£50M Man City target has now given the green light to PSG to come and get him

Manchester City are not shopping in the centre-back market this summer.

The Premier League giants are set to undergo a rebuild ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with Guardiola keen to add four or five players to his squad, having just experienced a tough season.

At the heart of this, a revamp of the Spanish coach’s midfield will take place with Man City closing in on Tijjani Reijnders, while the Premier League club are also working on a deal for Rayan Cherki.

In addition to this, a goalkeeper and two full-backs for either side are expected to arrive at the Etihad Stadium, with Guardiola content with his centre-back options.

Man City have had a Premier League central defender on their list for some time, should they ever want to add to the role, but their target looks set to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer, having already given the green light to the move.

Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has agreed to join PSG

Man City have held long-term interest in Illia Zabarnyi as the Ukrainian centre-back has impressed in the Premier League ever since moving to Bournemouth in 2023 from Dynamo Kyiv.

Last month, it was reported that Man City could sign Zabarnyi for around £50m this summer, however, it seems that the centre-back has decided to move to PSG ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

According to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins, PSG have made an offer for Zabarnyi, with the Champions League winners’ advisor, Luis Campos, said to be in England on Monday morning to negotiate a deal with Bournemouth.

The Ukrainian international is said to be keen on a move to Paris and has already given the green light to the transfer, a deal PSG hope to get wrapped up quickly.

Zabarnyi would have been a good addition to Man City’s squad, but the 22-year-old is not a player that Guardiola needs at present, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol set to be the Spanish coach’s starting pair throughout the 25/26 campaign.

How Illia Zabarnyi compares to Ruben Dias

Man City are not in the market for a centre-back as both Dias and Gvardiol are incredible players and both are young enough to remain at the Etihad Stadium for many years.

Nevertheless, had the Manchester club been looking to replace the Portuguese star, Zabarnyi would have been a great option as the 22-year-old is similar to the City centre-back.

Both players are defensive-minded centre-backs who read the game well, are very strong physically, and are calm on the ball, which is essential when being part of a Guardiola team.

Dias is better on the ball than Zabarnyi, but that is an area the Ukrainian would have improved working with the Spanish coach in Manchester.

Not many Man City fans will be upset about missing out on the 22-year-old, however, it was easy to see why the Premier League giants were keeping an eye on the Ukrainian.

Man City now set to make their first signing of the summer, the deal could cost £58m

With the FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon, Manchester City must act quickly in the summer transfer window.

As things stand, it seems like Pep Guardiola’s men are just on the verge of signing several players.

Manchester City could sign Rayan Cherki soon and back themselves to complete a deal for the Frenchman, who registered 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions last season.

While Rayan Ait-Nouri has said yes to joining Manchester City, a fee needs to be agreed between the Sky Blues and Wolves.

Tijjani Reijnders is a player who City have tracked for a while as well.

Man City set to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders

Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Reijnders to snap him up from AC Milan.

Reijnders, who was recognised as Serie A’s best midfielder has had a terrific season and could be set to play a key role for the English giants as well.

The good news for Manchester City fans is that journalist Daniel Longo has revealed that they could sign him on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola is looking to reshape his Manchester City squad this summer after ending season without silverware for first time in eight years and Newcastle star Tino Livramento is admired

Man City eye surprise transfer for Newcastle star with Pep Guardiola ‘keen’ on deal

Pep Guardiola is looking to reshape his Manchester City squad this summer after ending season without silverware for first time in eight years and Newcastle star Tino Livramento is admired

Pep Guardiola manager of Manchester City celebrates the second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on May 20, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City are eyeing a surprise move for Newcastle defender Tino Livramento, according to reports. Pep Guardiola is looking to revamp his squad ahead of a renewed assault on all fronts next season after the club went without silverware for the first time in eight years.

And Livramento, 22, is being looked at despite Newcastle having no appetite to sell a player who has three years left on his contract, as per the Daily Mail. The ex-Chelsea academy player arrived from Southampton in 2023 for £40m and was handed a senior England call-up earlier this year.

City are also pushing ahead with a move to bring in Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, with an expectation that he could sign in time for the Club World Cup later this month. City are also in talks with Lyon over a move for Rayan Cherki and they have already submitted a £55m bid for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak last week said City would come back stronger next season having finished 13 points behind champions Liverpool. It was the first campaign in eight that City did not win a single piece of silverware, while the club’s legal battle with the Premier League rumbles on in the background.

And Al Mubarak said: “We will be back. This season is a season that’s now behind us. Today is a new day. We start working and preparing for next season. And by the way, we’ve been doing that since January.

“And we will take all the good things and the not so good things from this season, and learn from it, improve from it and get better.

“I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve – and that we know we will achieve.

“Because really, if there’s one thing I’d like right now, it’s to turn that page from last season and just immediately start focusing on next season. All the players, they’re excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season.

“They want to come back, and they want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger. Normally these players are off and they’re starting to think about vacation time etc. Honestly, every player I spoke to was telling me, ‘we’re coming back’.

“That’s the attitude you want – and that’s exactly why you see me so positive. We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity.”

Manchester City have reached an agreement with AC Milan over a deal for midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

That’s according to journalist Orazio Accomando, who reports that Manchester City have agreed a €70m deal for the Dutchman with their Italian counterparts. That is the total sum, including bonuses.

He adds that the ‘final bureaucratic details’ are still to be finalised on the deal but there is seemingly a confidence that it will be done.

Milan News back this up somewhat, reporting that Reijnders’ departure from Milan is looking likely to arrive sooner than they had imagined.

According to them, Manchester City have made a first offer of €60m, which the Rossoneri refused. They asked Manchester City to up their offer.

They don’t say that they have but insists that Pep Guardiola’s side are pushing strongly today to close the deal and have the Dutchman available for the Club World Cup this summer. Teams competing in that tournament have a special transfer window in which to get deals done.

It appears Manchester City are determined to use that to their advantage and negotiations with Milan are firmly underway to get Reijnders over the line.

Two former Liverpool employees are under consideration as Pep Guardiola looks set to make significant changes to his Manchester City coaching staff.

Guardiola is eager for City to improve after a campaign in which they finished in third place in the Premier League, 13 points behind champions Liverpool.

Juanma Lillo, Inigo Dominguez and Carlos Vicens are all set to depart the club. Mail Sport revealed earlier in the week that there had been some confusion among the backroom staff after the offer of contract renewals had been delayed.

Manchester City’s Under-21 manager Ben Wilkinson will join Pep Guardiola’s backroom team for the Club World Cup along with assistant Craig Mudd.

Further changes are expected, with one of the potential new recruits having previously worked alongside Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Kolo Toure and Pep Lijnders are both being considered by City to join Guardiola’s coaching staff.

Toure is already working for City as an assistant coach at youth level. He played for the club between 2009 and 2013, making 102 appearances and winning the Premier League title in the 2011-12 season.

The defender, who was previously part of Arsenal’s Invincibles team, went on to play for Liverpool and Celtic.

He worked as an assistant coach at Leicester City and had a spell as manager of Wigan in the 2022-23 campaign but failed to win any of his nine games in charge.

Lijnders has had spells as a manager at NEC and Red Bull Salzburg.

While at Liverpool Ljinders was part of the coaching staff as Klopp’s side won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title the following year.

Lillo has had two spells as assistant to Guardiola at City – initially between 2020 and 2022 and then from 2023 onwards. He was manager of Al Sadd for a spell inbetween.

Last weekend City secured their place in the Champions League for next season but alterations are set to be made.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has insisted that the club will be heavily active in the transfer market.

‘Four players (arrived) in January and that gives you an idea of what’s coming this summer because we will continue this summer with this, serving the needs of the club,’ Al Mubarak said.

‘We’ll go about our business and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.

‘I think when I look back, last summer, we probably should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do. We didn’t do that and that ended up costing us this year.’

AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri are amongst City’s targets along with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.

Manchester City are already moving to strengthen this summer after an out-of-character season

Manchester City have something of a rebuild on their hands.

Legendary creator Kevin De Bruyne has left the club, Bernardo Silva could soon be on his way, and the likes of Mateo Kovacic aren’t getting any younger.

They do have the small matter of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to add back into the mix next season, but new faces will still likely be sought.

Manchester City moving for Milan star

The Manchester club have needed to refresh their squad for a while and, as such, invested heavily in January, bringing the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis to the club.

But that was before De Bruyne’s departure was confirmed. With that and Silva’s star fading, City are moving to shuffle their deck and have eyes on a Serie A star.

Pep Guardiola’s side are reportedly closing in on the signature of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

They revealed that the Premier League outfit have an offer ready of €60m, which could rise to €70m with add-ons.

It follows news that Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz could be heading to Liverpool, according to Fabrizio Romano, despite him being widely thought to be City’s primary target for a significant time.

With Wirtz slipping through their fingers, Guardiola has reportedly told his superiors to “go hard” in their pursuit of Reijnders.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, though they are different players, and Wirtz would have been the obvious star prize to add a spark to City’s midfield, Reijnders is not a bad substitute by any stretch.

Capable of playing deeper and further forward in the centre of the park, the Dutchman has shown his creative spark this season with 10 goals and five assists in Serie A.

Trying to replace the wizardry of De Bruyne is a fool’s game, but City can at least replace some of his numbers with a player like Reijnders.

Reijnders is valued at €50m, according to Transfermarkt.

Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.

Few could have predicted how much Manchester City would miss Spanish star Rodri in the heart of their midfield this season.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a 2-2 draw with Premier League rivals Arsenal back in September, and City have not looked the same since.

This season they have relinquished their league title to new champions Liverpool and suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup final.

Reports are now emerging in the Spanish press suggesting that City could take drastic action to turn their fortunes around.

According to Spanish publication Defensa Central, City have launched a stunning bid to sign England international Jude Bellingham from 15-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.

However, the publication does not believe that City would pay for the former Birmingham City star with cash.

Defense Central claim that City would be willing to swap their Spanish maestro for the 21-year-old in what would be one of the most remarkable transfers in football history.

Rodri is expected to make a full recovery from his injury ahead of the start of next season, with City hoping to regain the Premier League title at the first time of asking.

He returned for an eight-minute cameo during City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Wednesday after eight months out.

The 28-year-old was a key part of the Spain side that defeated Bellingham’s England 2-1 in the final of EURO 2024.

He has also been key to City’s astounding success in recent years and currently has four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one UEFA Champions League to his name since arriving at the Etihad Stadium.

Bellingham is still only 21, so is significantly younger than his midfield counterpart.

He has hit the ground running since swapping Borussia Dortmund for Madrid in 2023.

Bellingham won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League during his first season with Los Blancos.

However, they will have to settle for second place this season behind bitter rivals Barcelona

Tijjani Reijnders is the topic of heavy interest from Europe’s best clubs, and AC Milan may lose him this summer.

Despite renewing earlier this year, there is a feeling of dread setting in about Reijnders’ future, considering the interest already present in him. However, it appears there may not be much more time to be fearful with the inevitable setting in.

Reports before the Coppa Italia suggested that a bid could arrive this week, and whilst this is not the case, discussions are in an ‘advanced’ stage, per Sky reports, relayed by Milan News.

This morning, it was revealed that the accounts for the season are due to end in the red, and next season, it could be the same without European football on the table for the Rossoneri. So, a big sale is not to be ruled out.

Reijnders, understandably, is the biggest point of interest, and he seems the most likely candidate to depart at this point. €55 million was the suggested bid last week, but you would hope that the Diavolo hold on for a record fee, at least.

Nothing, imaginably, would be done before Igli Tare is officially through the door, allowing him to assess the midfielder and potential replacements. Nevertheless, it is not looking good for those of a Milan perspective.