The general view at Manchester City is that a squad needs a minimum of seven senior defenders.
After failing to bring in a senior left-back target and ultimately signing talented yet relatively inexperienced left-back Sergio Gómez from RSC Anderlecht, City still fell one short of its seven-defender plan.
With injuries to Nathan Aké and Aymeric Laporte leaving the Premier League champions lacking in depth, they had to bring in another centre-back to prevent their troubles at the end of last season from returning.
Late in the transfer window, Citys recruitment team had to identify a defender with international experience who was for sale at a reasonable price yet capable of appearing in approximately 20 games.
Manuel Akanji is believed to tick those boxes.
Arriving from German giants Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £15m, Akanji is no stranger to the big stage.
With over 40 caps for the Swiss national team, the centre-back was instrumental to their overperformance at Euro 2020 and qualification for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.
At the club level, he is a starter in big games and Champions League fixtures with Dortmund and his former club FC Basel.
His performances in Europe for the Swiss side earned him a January 2018 move to Dortmund for nearly £20M.
His spell with BVB may not have been as successful as expected, with his occasional niggling injuries and tendency to make errors tarnishing his contribution to the team.
This Swiss international was not short of admirers this transfer window, with his Dortmund contract set to end next summer.
Both AC Milan and Inter Milan targeted Akanji.
Meanwhile, Leicester City was heavily linked with him as Wesley Fofana’s replacement.
With his contract situation at Dortmund and the purchases of centre-backs Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, it was in the best interest of both the club and the player for Akanji to leave.
He would’ve moved earlier in the window, but the packages offered to Dortmund and Akanji were too cheap.
City and Akanji reportedly reached a compromise that is higher than other clubs offers but still lower than what the defender wanted.
Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola has brought in the defensive reinforcement The Citizens needed.
This Manuel Akanji player analysis, in the form of a Manuel Akanji scout report, examines the qualities he will provide as a defensive backup at Manchester City.
Manuel Akanji Player Profile
The Swiss international (187cm/6’2”, 91kg/200lbs) is a right-footed centre-back with an athletic build.
He is physically excellent, possessing strength, toughness, and pace.
Akanjis speed in recovery runs is especially effective for teams operating with a high line, such as Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
His composure in the build-up phase, paired with his passing range, aids in ball retention and ball progression.
Manuel Akanji Heat Map
The image above displays Manuel Akanji’s heatmap from the 2021/22 season.
He was typically deployed as the right-sided centre-back at Borussia Dortmund; however, he also featured on the left side and in the centre of a back three.
Under manager Marco Rose last season, Die Borussen lacked continuity in their shapes, both in and out of possession.
Frequently cha
