Nathan Ake faces Man City exit with one year left on contract after Netherlands snub

Nathan Ake is emerging as one of several potential departures from Manchester City this summer, with the Dutch defender entering the final year of his contract and his international standing diminished after being left on the bench for the Netherlands’ 2-1 World Cup warm-up victory over Uzbekistan on Monday.

Ake, 31, has been a reliable presence at the Etihad since joining from Bournemouth in 2020, stepping in during the final weeks of the Premier League season against Brentford and Crystal Palace as City kept the title race alive. His performances prompted effusive praise from then-manager Pep Guardiola, who described the centre-back as among the finest players he had ever worked with.

“Nathan — the job he has to do in terms of focus — is one of the best, and there are few players who are more reliable,” Guardiola said. “The final of the Carabao Cup, the last game against Brentford, he is complete. Wow. He is one of the best I ever had. Apart from that he is one of the most incredible teammates for his manager and his teammates and has been an incredible signing from Bournemouth. He played in the Champions League final in Istanbul — that is how reliable he is. Top guy and a top player.”

Despite those words, Ake now faces uncertainty on two fronts. At club level, City are navigating a significant transitional period following Guardiola’s departure, with Bernardo Silva and John Stones already confirmed to be leaving. Rodri and Josko Gvardiol have given non-committal answers about their futures, and Ake’s contract situation places him in a similar position of vulnerability.

Internally, his role at City has always been that of a high-quality squad player rather than an undisputed starter — a profile that becomes harder to sustain when a club is rebuilding and trimming depth. With no contract extension yet agreed, the coming weeks could force him to weigh up whether his future lies at the Etihad or elsewhere.

At international level, Ake played a meaningful role for the Netherlands at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, but Ronald Koeman left him unused against Uzbekistan ahead of the Netherlands’ opening World Cup group game against Japan. Whether that reflects a temporary tactical decision or a longer-term shift in his standing with the national team remains to be seen, but it adds another layer of uncertainty to a pivotal summer for the defender.