As the 25/26 Premier League season approaches, we bring you a full breakdown of Rayan Cherki’s transfer to Man City and how he impacts the upcoming FPL season! We break down Cherki’s position and role, his indivdual impact, the impact to his team and what all of that means for his FPL value. We also take a shot at estimating his price range and stats!
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Transfer Overview:
Transfer:
From Lyon to Man City
Tranfer Fee:
£34 million
Contract Length:
5 years. Contract runs until 2030.
Wage:
Rumoured to be around £100k per week plus likely goal, assist and trophy bonuses.
Individual Analysis:
Position:
He is very much a number 10 and number 10 only.
He does not have the pace to play on the wing consistently, and does not have the defensive prowess or focus to play in a deeper midfield role.
(Source: Sofascore.com)
Role & Stats:
Cherki is a conundrum of a player, who has wonderful technical ability, an eye for a pass, wonderful ability to strike the ball from range and is a skillful player dribbling. He is a very two footed player, comfortable using both feet for any action. However his major criticism’s have always been based around his attitude, effort, fitness levels and willingness to press.
If Pep can get greater fitness levels out of him, and utilises Cherki in his best role, that £34m could be an absolute bargain.
Cherki scored 8 goals for Lyon last season, all non penalties. He overperformed his xG of 5.01xG by quite a bit, but when you see Cherki’s post-shot xG of 7.6xG, it makes sense. He is simply a top level and accurate finisher and ball striker from distance. Now that the Frenchman is playing in a far superior attacking side to Lyon, it is certainly possible that his goal and xG numbers take a big jump if he plays regular minutes.
Cherki’s greatest skill is his chance creation and creative abilities in the final third. He had the most assists in Ligue 1 last season with 11 assists from 11.7xA, both elite numbers for Europe’s top 5 leagues. 11.7xA would have easily been 1st in the Premier League last season – Mbeumo finished 1st with 9.3xA. He also created 75 chances which would have been the 5th best total in the Premier League last season.
Expected Minutes:
Cherki’s expected minutes are tough to predict. He will be competing with Foden, Marmoush and possibly even Reijnders to play in that number 10 role.
He may also get some minutes playing on the wings but he really does lack pace to play on the wing especially when compared to Doku an Savio.
Cherki will likely not be in Pep’s starting lineup to begin the season, as Pep has very much favoured a Reijnders, Silva, Gundogan midfield 3 with Haaland, Doku and Savio in the forward line. This significantly reduced his FPL viability to start the season although this could obviously change as the season progresses.
FPL Position:
Cheap Forward
FPL Analysis:
Cherki will likely be a Premium Midfielder (above £7.0m). Unless Guardiola indicates that he is favouring Cherki or extremely impressed with his pre season, it is unlikely he is a particularly high EO player.
It is difficult to make the case Cherki should be in FPL teams to start the season given he is currently not in what seems to be Pep’s strongest/preferred starting XI, and faces stiff competition from Foden, Marmoush, Reijnders, Savio and Doku in the positions he plays in.
If Cherki can break into Pep’s preferred starting XI then that completely changes the outlook for him at that moment. He is such a creative and attacking force that if he does get a lot of minutes, he is likely to turn this into goals and assists.
Cherki is an excellent free kick and corner taker, and when he does play this naturally would raise his ceiling.
Team Impact:
Cherki could have a major impact on a City team who struggled to break down low blocks for periods of last season. His passing, crossing, shooting and dribbling ability could all be pivotal to City being a serious attacking force this season, but that is IF he becomes a starter.
If Cherki was to become a regular starter, that would significantly lower Foden and Marmoush’s FPL value, as the 10 position is likely to be where those two players would lock down as their own, with Doku and Savio being favoured by Pep on the wings as of this moment. Marmoush would have greater value than Foden in this scenario because he can play anywhere along the front 3 and would be first choice to replace any of the preferred 3.
FPL Price Range Prediction:
£7.0m-£8.0m
My Prediction:
Cherki will not be in my team GW1. I simply don’t think he is currently viewed as a starter, and is competing with too many good players for essentially one role in the team – the number 10 role. Until he starts multiple games in a row and we get some positive Guardiola quotes, he is an FPL afterthought.
There are too many other Midfielders in FPL that will be priced in a similar range whose profiles are just far more appealing to own Cherki to begin the season such as Eze, Elanga, Bowen as well as his teammates Doku and Savio.
02 Jul, 2025
