Fenerbahce presidential candidate identifies Manchester City defender as key transfer target
- Manchester City’s Nathan Ake is reportedly a top transfer target for Fenerbahce presidential candidate Aziz Yıldırım.
- The defender’s current contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire next summer.
- Yıldırım has held talks with those at City and will meet their demands to sign Ake if he is elected.
Fenerbahce presidential candidate Aziz Yıldırım has identified Manchester City’s Nathan Ake as a top transfer target if he were to win the upcoming election.
Earlier last month, Yıldırım officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 Extraordinary General Assembly of Fenerbahce Sports Club, having previously served as the 36th president of the Turkish club for 20 consecutive years from 1998 to 2018.
After leading the club to win six Super Lig titles in the past, the former club president is reportedly making every effort to get re-elected ahead of the Yellow Canaries’ historic 120th anniversary, with Nathan Ake’s potential move to Istanbul one of his campaign promises.
The Dutchman arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Bournemouth in August 2020, on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £41 million. Later in July 2023, he penned a contract extension valid until the summer of 2027.
Yıldırım holds talks with Man City over Nathan Ake transfer
Nathan Ake started in 17 out of the 32 appearances he made across competitions for Manchester City in the most recent 2025/26 campaign.
Uncertainty over the defender’s future at the English side surfaced after he received 688 minutes in 18 Premier League matches, which included six starts, in the recent season under now-former manager Pep Guardiola.
Back in May, the Catalan manager addressed Nathan Ake’s situation, mentioning that he hopes the 31-year-old will stay further at the club while hailing him as an “incredible signing.”
Now, according to Fotomaç – as translated and relayed by Sport Witness – Aziz Yıldırım recently visited England to hold talks with Manchester City officials over the potential signing of Nathan Ake.
The report suggested the Premier League giants are asking for a transfer fee of €11 million, while the centre-back wants an annual salary of €6 million, excluding possible bonuses in Turkey.
Yıldırım has claimed that he can match both of their demands and would make the transfer happen if he is elected as Fenerbahce’s new president.
With the objective to reinstate the club’s success in the top flight, the 73-year-old is focused on strengthening defence and plans to form a ‘defensive dream team’ by pairing the Dutchman with Milan Skriniar, according to Turkish-Football.
Which other clubs are interested in signing Nathan Ake?
With only a year left on his current contract at Manchester City, several other prominent clubs – alongside Fenerbahce – have been linked to make a move for Nathan Ake this summer.
Even though a new manager will be taking over at the Etihad Stadium soon, with Enzo Maresca the expected name following Pep Guardiola’s recent departure, the player is unlikely to be a part of Manchester City’s long-term plans.
Barcelona have long been regarded as one of the defender’s top suitors, however, the transfer fee and his salary demands are deemed to be out of the La Liga champions’ budget amid their other targets for the summer.
The Chelsea graduate has also attracted interest from Serie A clubs, Juventus, AC Milan, and AS Roma, while Bournemouth are also reported to be keen on bringing back their former player to the Vitality Stadium.
After registering 10 goals and three assists in a total of 177 appearances and winning 12 major trophies in the last six years at Manchester City, it remains to be seen what is next for Nathan Ake.
