Anderson, Fernandez and Bouaddi form midfield trio that has surpassed Rodri era at Man City

Manchester City’s midfield, written off by many after Rodri’s summer exit, has emerged as one of the most cohesive units in Europe through the opening weeks of the 2026/27 Premier League season — a turnaround that even the club’s own supporters struggled to foresee.

Rodri left the Etihad Stadium on 18 August 2026, with City collecting £65m for a player in the final year of his contract. The Ballon d’Or winner had just captained Spain to World Cup glory, and his value had never been higher. Head coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged the scale of the loss at his first press conference, saying simply: “I think every manager wants to have Rodri, because he’s a top player.”

The anxiety in the fanbase was rooted in recent memory. When Rodri missed the majority of the 2024/25 campaign through injury, City were unable to cope. Pep Guardiola moved in January to sign Nico Gonzalez as an emergency fix, but the damage was done — the club ended that season without a trophy, their first blank in years.

This time, the recruitment was more considered. Elliot Anderson had already arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116m, a fee that drew scepticism. Enzo Fernandez followed from Chelsea, a move Maresca pushed hard for having worked with the Argentine at Stamford Bridge, despite lingering controversy surrounding Fernandez from the World Cup. Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed on the international stage in the summer, completed the trio.

The three have settled quickly and convincingly. Anderson provides the defensive cover and relentless pressing that anchors the unit. Fernandez has been a creative force going forward. Bouaddi, still young, has shown a reading of the game that belies his age — anticipating danger and snuffing it out before it develops.

The performance that crystallised the transformation came against Paris Saint-Germain last week, when the three played together and dominated the centre of the pitch from start to finish, dictating the tempo and turning the match in City’s favour.

Bernardo Silva also departed this summer, meaning City effectively rebuilt their entire midfield in one window. That the new unit is being described — credibly — as arguably stronger than what came before it is a remarkable outcome, and one that looked anything but certain when Rodri said his goodbyes at the Etihad Campus just two months ago.