Nathan

Ake

Nathan Ake was Manchester City’s second signing of summer 2020, arriving on a five-year deal which keeps him at the Club until 2025.

The 25-year-old defender joined from Bournemouth, where he made 109 appearances in three seasons.

Ake played predominantly at centre-half for the Cherries, but is capable of playing left-back and started his career as a holding midfielder.

A 13-cap Netherlands international, he moved to England in 2011 at the age of 16, when Chelsea signed him from Feyenoord.

He made his first team debut on Boxing Day 2012 and went on to be part of the 2013 Europa League and 2014 League Cup winning squads.

However, first team opportunities were limited and he embarked on several loan spells, first at Reading, before a season with Watford in 2015/16, when he won the Hornets’ Young Player of the Year award.

He joined Bournemouth on a six-month loan deal in 2016/17 and moved permanently for a club record fee the following summer.

Ake's first campaign at the Etihad was hampered by muscular injuries and he  was restricted to just 13 appearances.

He would suffer more frustrating injuries during 2021/22, but more than doubled his appearances from his first campaign with 27 and impressed whenever he featured.

Ake has again impressed so far during the 2022/23 campaign both with his consistency and adaptability at the back.

The 27-year-old was then named in the Netherlands squad taking part at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

He maintained his fine form out in Qatar, starting all five of the Netherlands' games as they reached the quarter-finals before going out 4-3 on penalties to eventual champions Argentina.