Man City’s woes continue as key player picks up an injury

Manchester City’s rocky opening to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign has taken another major hit, this time with the news of a significant injury blow.

Already under pressure after a sluggish start to the season, Pep Guardiola’s side now faces the absence of one of their high-profile summer signings, Rayan Cherki. The French midfielder, brought in from Lyon in June for a fee of £30.45 million, has been ruled out for approximately two months due to injury, Guardiola confirmed.

Cherki had wasted no time in announcing himself to the Premier League, scoring on his debut during City’s commanding 4-0 victory over Wolves. He also featured in the following weekend’s defeat to Tottenham but was noticeably absent when the champions slumped to a second consecutive league loss against Brighton, going down 2-1.

The French Football Federation later revealed the extent of the problem, confirming that the 22-year-old has suffered a quadriceps tear. As a result, Cherki has been withdrawn from Didier Deschamps’ squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers, with Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike called up as his replacement.

For City, the timing of the setback could hardly be worse. Cherki’s absence rules him out of several crucial fixtures, including the season’s first Manchester derby against United, set for Sunday, 14 September 2025.

That particular clash carried added significance for the midfielder, who was part of Lyon’s dramatic 5-4 Europa League defeat to United and had openly spoken about his desire for revenge after joining the Premier League champions.

This injury not only sidelines one of City’s most promising additions but also deepens the sense of frustration around the Etihad, where early-season momentum is already proving hard to come by.