Nathan Ake has brought the curtain down on a glittering six year spell at Manchester City, with the club confirming the Dutch defender’s transfer to Turkish giants Fenerbahce in a deal worth an initial £7 million. The 31 year old leaves the Etihad Stadium as one of the most decorated players of his generation, having accumulated four Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, two FA Cups and two Carabao Cups during his time in sky blue. The transfer fee could eventually rise to £8.5 million when performance related add ons are factored in, representing shrewd business for a player who arrived from Bournemouth for £41 million in the summer of 2020.
Fenerbahce had jumped the gun somewhat by announcing the signing on Friday, a move that caught City officials off guard as they insisted final paperwork remained outstanding. Twenty four hours later, the Premier League champions made it official, releasing a statement confirming Ake’s departure with just one year remaining on the four year contract extension he signed following City’s historic treble winning campaign in 2023. Speaking about his departure, Ake expressed gratitude for his time at the club and acknowledged the personal growth he experienced under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage.
The timing of Ake’s move comes on the heels of the Netherlands’ disappointing World Cup campaign, where the defender featured in three of his nation’s four matches before their tournament ended in penalty out heartbreak against Morocco in the round of 32. Replaced in the 71st minute of that crucial tie, Ake started twice during the competition but could not help his country progress beyond the early knockout stages. His performances in Qatar, however, evidently impressed Fenerbahce’s recruitment team enough to secure his signature for what represents a significant discount on his original transfer fee.
Ake’s departure reflects the natural evolution of Manchester City’s squad as Guardiola continues to refresh his roster with younger talent while allowing decorated veterans to seek new challenges. The left sided defender never quite became an automatic starter at the Etihad but proved himself an invaluable squad player whose versatility and reliability made him a trusted option during City’s period of unprecedented domestic and European dominance. His ability to play both centre back and left back provided Guardiola with tactical flexibility during injury crises and fixture congestion.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain has decided his future lies at Celtic Park after signing a new one year contract extension with the Scottish champions. The 32 year old midfielder, who earned 35 caps for England during a career that has taken him from Arsenal to Liverpool and briefly to Besiktas, joined Celtic on a short term deal in February following his release from the Turkish club. His impact proved immediate and decisive, scoring on his debut against Livingston with a match winning strike that endeared him to the Celtic faithful and set the tone for a successful spell that yielded both league and Scottish Cup honours.
Oxlade Chamberlain made 12 appearances for Celtic during the second half of last season, contributing two goals as Martin O’Neill’s side secured a domestic double. His experience and quality added depth to Celtic’s midfield options at a crucial stage of the campaign, and the club clearly see value in retaining his services for another year as they prepare to defend their titles and compete in European competition. The former Liverpool star will now join his teammates for a pre season training camp in Portugal next week, following Celtic’s opening friendly fixture against Shelbourne at Tolka Park. With both players now settled in their new destinations, attention turns to how they will adapt to fresh challenges at clubs with significant ambitions of their own.
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