Fenerbahce announce Nathan Ake deal in move that caught Manchester City off guard

Fenerbahce have announced they have reached an agreement to sign Manchester City defender Nathan Ake in a deal initially valued at £7 million, with add-ons potentially taking the fee to £8.5 million. The Turkish club’s public statement on Friday is understood to have caught City off guard, with the transfer not yet fully complete.

Fenerbahce issued a statement confirming the agreement: “Our club has reached an agreement with and signed a contract with Nathan Ake, a player for the Dutch national team. Ake, who has been playing in the 2026 Fifa World Cup, will join our team at the Austrian training camp after his leave of absence.”

The premature disclosure suggests negotiations are still ongoing to finalise all aspects of the deal. Should it be completed, it would bring an end to Ake’s six-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium.

The 31-year-old arrived at City from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020 for £41 million and went on to accumulate a remarkable trophy haul — four Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, and two Carabao Cups. Despite that collective success, Ake struggled for consistent playing time in Pep Guardiola’s final season in charge, managing only six starts across his 18 Premier League appearances. He had one year remaining on the contract he signed following City’s Champions League triumph in 2023.

Ake recently represented the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, featuring in three of their four games and starting two. He was substituted in the 71st minute of their last-32 tie against Morocco, a match the Dutch ultimately lost on penalties.

The signing carries clear strategic intent for Fenerbahce. Club president Aziz Yildirim had identified Ake as a key transfer target before his election last month. The Istanbul side finished as runners-up in the Turkish Super Lig last season and will be hoping the experienced centre-back can strengthen their push for domestic and European honours.