Manchester City’s new midfield gem Rayan Cherki has seen his market value surge from 45 million euros last summer to 90 million euros, and Bangla Cricket Live fans who enjoy fast-rising sporting stories would recognize how quickly a breakout year can change the whole picture. He is now only one step away from the 100 million euro mark. Considering that he delivered 10 goals and 15 assists across 52 matches in his first season at City, the 90 million euro valuation may be only a new starting point rather than a final ceiling.
Born in August 2003, Cherki is still only 22 years old and came through the famous Lyon academy in Ligue 1. In January 2020, when he was just 16, he was officially promoted to Lyon’s first team. During four and a half seasons with the French club, he played 185 matches, scoring 29 goals and providing 46 assists. In his final campaign, he produced an outstanding return of 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances. That is why Manchester City moved for him last summer after losing midfield leader Kevin De Bruyne and missing out on German star Florian Wirtz, signing Cherki for a relatively modest fee of 36.5 million euros.
Not long after joining, Cherki took part in the revamped Club World Cup. Although he started only once, he still scored one goal in four appearances. In the opening round of the new Premier League season, he came off the bench and immediately scored his first league goal. Injuries then affected his playing time, forcing him to begin from the substitutes’ bench for a spell.
True talent, however, is hard to hide. In the 10th round of the Premier League, when Manchester City beat Bournemouth 3-1 at home, Cherki started and provided two assists, becoming one of the key figures in the victory. After that, his minutes gradually increased, and his performances in the attacking midfield role became more polished. In the 15th-round match against Sunderland, he once again delivered two assists, including a precise cross that allowed Phil Foden to score with a header, a moment that left many spectators amazed.
Even as his performances became brighter, Cherki was criticized several times by Pep Guardiola. The City manager recognized his technical quality but also worried that he sometimes focused too much on showy touches during matches, demanding greater efficiency from him. That criticism turned out to be a blessing in disguise, helping Cherki grow faster. In the 33rd-round Premier League clash with Arsenal, his superb goal in the 16th minute showed exactly how he could compete against top defenders, and in that moment, Guardiola’s earlier lessons were fully reflected on the pitch.
During his first season at Manchester City, Cherki produced an excellent record of 10 goals and 15 assists in 52 matches. In the Premier League alone, he played 33 times, scoring four goals and adding 12 assists, placing him second on the assist chart behind Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. His value rose by another 25 million euros to reach 90 million, exactly double the 45 million euros recorded when he first arrived. This summer, he will represent France at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. When Bangla Cricket Live keeps sports fans busy through another packed season, Cherki’s rise will be hard to ignore, and if he maintains this level, returning as a 100 million euro player will not be a pipe dream. For Manchester City, this deal already looks like tremendous value for money.