Nathan Ake tipped for Manchester City exit this summer

Nathan Ake is increasingly expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, despite Pep Guardiola still valuing him highly as part of the squad.

According to the Manchester Evening News, City are preparing for life without the Dutch defender as they reshape their back line.

Ake’s contract runs until the summer of 2027, but his role has diminished this campaign. Now 31, he has effectively slipped to fifth choice at centre-back, behind Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov in the pecking order.

That lack of regular minutes has raised alarms at international level too. Ake has reportedly been warned that staying as a fringe player could cost him his place in the Netherlands squad, making a move away from the Etihad a logical next step.

For a player still eager to compete at the highest level for club and country, this summer may represent the ideal moment to seek a fresh challenge and reclaim a starting role elsewhere.