The Viana effect
Since replacing Txiki Begiristain as Director of Football, Viana has run this window less like a reactive scramble and more like a chess match targets like Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi were being tracked back in February, months before a bid was even placed. That’s the philosophy he brought over from Sporting CP: intelligence-led scouting, reading player preference, and using market leverage instead of panic-buying in August.
With Pep gone and Enzo Maresca now in the dugout, Viana basically had to rebuild a title-winning squad’s spine in one window and he’s done it with a mix of statement fees and smart value.
Midfield — the real headline
This is where Viana’s work stands out most, because Rodri’s exit to Barcelona left a genuine hole in City’s engine room.
Elliot Anderson— £116m from Nottingham Forest, a club-record fee. Versatile, England World Cup starter, exactly the ball-progression profile City lost.
Ayyoub Bouaddi— £81m from Lille. A teenager who blew up at the World Cup; this is a bet on ceiling, not just readiness.
Enzo Fernández— still live on deadline day, talks with Chelsea reportedly advancing given his history with Maresca.
That’s close to £200m committed to two midfielders alone, with a third potentially landing before the window shuts tonight — a deliberate, layered rebuild rather than a single marquee replacement.
Elsewhere in the squad
In: Allan (£32m, Palmeiras), Jeremy Monga (£12.5m, beat Arsenal/Man Utd to a highly-rated teen forward), Pierce Charles and Rulli (GK depth), Mathys Detourbet, plus academy signing Heaven Kilwa (16).
Out: Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders (£52m), Sávio (£75m to Spurs) — 18 departures total, with Jack Grealish also expected to leave before the deadline.
