With the arrivals of Danilo, Ederson, Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker, it’s been a busy summer at the City Football Academy.
And, while the transfer window is still open, the return of Premier League action this week marks a shift in focus as attentions turn to the beginning of the new season.
Here are the key dates for your diary throughout 2017/18.
August
12th: Brighton v City
City kick off the season at the AMEX Stadium, in what is the newly-promoted Seagulls’ first ever Premier League game.
15th: Girona v City
Pep Guardiola will take advantage of a free midweek to give his side the chance to work on their match sharpness against the La Liga outfit.
21st: City v Everton
After a long break, Premier League action returns to the Etihad Stadium, with Everton the visitors for the first home game of the season.
24th: Champions League group stage draw
Who will City face in the Champions League? It’s the Blues’ seventh consecutive campaign in Europe’s elite competition and Guardiola will be desperate to improve on last season’s run to the last 16.
The group stage draw will be made on August 24 once the qualifying matches have been played, with City in Pot 2.
31st: Transfer window closes
On August 31 at 11pm the transfer window will slam shut...until January.
September
9th: City v Liverpool
It’s a double dose of Merseyside for our opening two home fixtures as Liverpool follow their cross-city rivals down the East Lancs.
12/13th: Champions League group stage begins
A seventh campaign in Europe’s premier club cup competition gets underway.
W/C 18th: Carabao Cup third round
The first of this season’s domestic cup competitions begins for Guardiola’s men.
30th Chelsea v City
A stern test presents itself early in the fixture schedule, when City head to Stamford Bridge to face the reigning champions at the end of September.
November
4th: City v Arsenal
Another big game quickly follows as the Gunners head north in early November.
December
5th: Final Champions League group stage game
We’ll know for certain if and in what position Pep’s men have qualified for the last 16.
9th: United v City
No doubt it’s already in the calendar - the first Manchester derby of the season takes place at Old Trafford before Christmas.
16th: City v Spurs
The notoriously busy festive fixture schedule throws up another big game seven days later, with the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino’s men in East Manchester.
26th: Newcastle v City
An English football favourite, St James’ Park is the venue for this year’s Boxing Day clash.
January
1st: Transfer window opens
Should Pep wish to add mid-season reinforcements, he’ll have four weeks to do so from the first day in 2018.
6th: FA Cup third round
The most famous club cup competition in the world begins for the Blues.
13th: Liverpool v City
A trip to Anfield beckons early in the new year.
31st: Transfer window closes
The window shuts for the second time this season at 11pm on Wednesday 31st.
February
24th: Arsenal v City
City will be well into their stride come February, when they’ll face a tough trip to North London.
25th: Carabao Cup final
The above game could of course be rearranged if City successfully navigate their way to the final of the League Cup.
March
3rd: City v Chelsea
The champions visit the Etihad in what is sure to be a big game before the season enters the home straight.
April
7th: City v United
As the season reaches its finale, this game game could take on even more significance.
14th: Spurs v City
Another big test for City as we head to Wembley for a non-final appearance at Spurs’ temporary home.
May
13th: Southampton v City
The curtain comes down on the Premier League season at St Mary’s.
19th: FA Cup final
It would be the Blues’ 11th FA Cup final appearance and first since 2013.
26th: Champions League final
The NSK Olimpiyski in Kiev will host this year’s final, which would be City’s first if they were to make it through the group and knockout phase of the tournament.
