Rayan Cherki
Attacking Midfielder · Manchester City · France
About Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki is Lyon's former teenage prodigy turned Manchester City playmaker — a two-footed No.10 who set club and continental youth-scoring age records before a public falling-out with Lyon's ownership. Since his 2025 move to City he has forced his way into France's senior squad and finished his debut Premier League season second only to Bruno Fernandes for assists.
Rayan Cherki's story
A Lyon Childhood
Born in Lyon on 17 August 2003, Cherki is the third of five brothers. His father Fabrice, of Algerian and Italian heritage, was an amateur footballer himself; his mother Abla, of Algerian descent, was closely involved in his early career decisions. He joined Lyon's academy at seven.
A Wonderkid, Then a Falling-Out
By 16, Cherki had already become Lyon's youngest-ever Champions League debutant and scorer, and the youngest scorer in UEFA Youth League history. France U21 manager Thierry Henry said: “I have never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him with both feet.” The rise wasn't smooth — he was frozen out during a 2024 contract dispute, with leaked messages from Lyon owner John Textor showing open hostility toward him — before he rebounded with an award-laden final season: Ligue 1's top assist provider and the Europa League's Young Player of the Season for 2024-25.
A Dream Move to Manchester City
Manchester City signed Cherki from Lyon in June 2025 for a fee in the region of €36.5m plus add-ons, on a five-year deal. “This is a dream for me,” he said. “To be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special.” Director of football Hugo Viana added: “He's a player our scouts have watched for a long time, and we have all been impressed with his skill and creativity.”
Genius or Showman — France Can't Decide Either
A quad injury cost Cherki his first two months at City, but he still finished 2025-26 with 33 Premier League appearances and 12 assists, second in the league behind Bruno Fernandes. Pep Guardiola called him “a top, top, top talent,” while Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, after facing him, joked: “I don't know the word for higher than a genius… maybe God?” The flair splits opinion — pundit Jérôme Rothen has criticised his attitude in a France shirt — but it earned him a senior France debut in June 2025 and a place in France's run to the 2026 World Cup semi-finals.
Did you know?
- 🥈 Won an Olympic silver medal with France at the Paris 2024 Games before making his senior international debut the following year
- ❤️ Personally donated €80,000 to France's ZEvent 2025 charity livestream, and visited sick children at Lyon's Centre Léon Bérard oncology unit, performing a personalised goal celebration for one young patient
- 👨👩👧👦 One of five brothers growing up in Lyon, he has said his mother was closely involved in the career decisions that shaped his path through Lyon's academy
- 🎨 On his own approach to the game: "Football for me is like art. It's like music, it's like drawing."
- 🔟 Initially wore the No.29 shirt at Manchester City before switching to his favoured No.10 once Jack Grealish's loan to Everton freed it up in August 2025
- 🎭 Drew a stern look from Gary Neville after casually attempting kick-ups late in a Carabao Cup final rout of Arsenal in March 2026 — pure showmanship, even if Pep Guardiola seemed to find it funny
- ⭐ Names Cristiano Ronaldo as his footballing idol: "His longevity is exemplary, and he's the one to emulate."
- 🔊 His former Lyon manager Peter Bosz says his personality matched his talent even as a teenager: "Even when he was 17, Cherki was the loudest in the dressing room, everyone knew he was there."
- 🏙️ On the streets game that shaped him: "I learned to play football in the streets, in the estates, on concrete. So, naturally it's my DNA."
See the full Rayan Cherki profile
Stats, photo gallery, what the press are saying and the daily challenge, free on DailyPlayer.
Open the full profile