Man City entrust No.10 shirt to new arrival Rayan Cherki
Manchester City have handed new signing Rayan Cherki the club's coveted No.10 shirt for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.
The 21-year-old Frenchman arrived from Lyon on a five-year deal, with the Ligue 1 side receiving a package worth around €35 million including performance-related add-ons.
City's summer rebuild comes on the back of a turbulent campaign that fell short of the high standards set in recent years, prompting the Catalan manager to push for sweeping personnel changes.
The attacking midfielder joins fellow newcomers Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and James Trafford, all part of a recruitment drive that began in the January window.
Guardiola is understood to have prioritised both youthful energy and technical flair, hoping to inject fresh impetus into a side that has looked increasingly laboured in key moments.
By handing Cherki the No.10 shirt — long associated with creativity and influence — City are signalling their faith in his ability to shape the team's attacking play.
The French youngster will be expected to make an immediate impact in the new season as Guardiola aims to blend his new arrivals seamlessly into a squad still brimming with experience and ambition.