Manchester City may have suffered a painful 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, but the result has not changed the club’s plans in the summer transfer market.
Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Manchester City still intend to make further moves before the transfer window closes. The manager insisted that the club already knew which areas needed improvement before facing Arsenal, meaning the defeat in Cardiff did not suddenly change their recruitment strategy.
Arsenal produced an impressive performance on Sunday (16 August 2026), scoring through Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. For Manchester City, however, the match also highlighted the importance of having enough quality and depth before the Premier League campaign begins.
Maresca believes the next few weeks could be crucial as City look to complete their squad.
Maresca Confirms Manchester City Will Make More Moves
Manchester City’s transfer plans were already established before the Community Shield. According to Maresca, the club’s recruitment strategy is not based on whether the team wins or loses individual matches.
Speaking after the defeat to Arsenal, Maresca explained that City remain clear about what they need.
“We knew before the game the things we needed to do. It is not because we lost or if we won, then we would think differently,” Maresca said.
“We are quite clear about what we need to do and, of course, we will do something before the transfer window closes,” he added.
The statement is significant because it confirms that Manchester City are not planning to sit back after an already busy summer.
Instead, the club appears determined to continue strengthening the squad before the Premier League season gets into full swing.
Elliot Anderson Becomes City’s Record Signing
Manchester City have already made a major investment this summer by signing Elliot Anderson for £116 million.
That figure makes Anderson the club’s record signing, underlining the scale of City’s ambition ahead of the new season.
The midfielder is expected to provide additional quality and energy to the squad. His arrival also reflects the club’s desire to maintain a competitive team capable of challenging across multiple competitions.
Manchester City will face a demanding schedule throughout the campaign. Premier League fixtures will be accompanied by cup commitments and European competition, meaning squad depth could become extremely important.
The club therefore appears willing to continue spending if the right opportunities become available.
Rodri Could Leave Manchester City
While City are looking to add players, there could also be major movement in the opposite direction.
Spain midfielder Rodri has reportedly been linked with a departure from the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri played an important role in Spain’s successful 2026 World Cup campaign and remains one of the most influential midfielders in European football.
If he does leave Manchester City, the club could face a significant challenge in replacing his influence.
His potential departure would make the recruitment of another midfielder even more important, particularly with City aiming to compete for major trophies.
The situation could therefore lead to further changes in the squad before the transfer deadline.
Ayyoub Bouaddi Deal Could Be Another Major Move
Manchester City are also reportedly close to signing Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The 18-year-old Moroccan impressed during the 2026 World Cup and has attracted considerable attention from major European clubs.
A potential agreement could reportedly reach £85 million, which would represent another significant investment by Manchester City.
When asked about Bouaddi, however, Maresca chose not to discuss the Lille player specifically.
“He is still a Lille player. But for every new player, obviously the sooner they arrive, the better,” Maresca explained.
“If they can start working with us as soon as possible, it will be better because they can also understand the way we play,” he added.
Those comments suggest that City are keen to complete their remaining transfer business quickly.
Why New Arrivals Need Time to Adapt
Maresca’s comments also highlight an important part of Manchester City’s preparations: adaptation.
Signing a talented player is only the first step. New arrivals need time to understand the tactical demands of their new team, build chemistry with teammates and adjust to a different style of football.
For City, this process becomes even more important because expectations are extremely high.
New players must quickly understand:
- The team’s tactical structure.
- Their individual responsibilities.
- The pressing and defensive approach.
- The attacking patterns used by the team.
- Their relationships with existing players.
The sooner new recruits arrive, the more time they have to settle before competitive matches become increasingly demanding.
Community Shield Defeat Provides a Warning
The 3-0 loss to Arsenal was not necessarily the reason Manchester City decided to remain active in the transfer market. Maresca made that clear.
However, the performance can still serve as a useful warning.
Arsenal demonstrated their attacking quality and took control of the match early. City struggled to respond and eventually conceded three goals without finding a reply.
Rather than panic, City can use the defeat as an opportunity to identify areas that require improvement.
The Premier League season will provide a much longer test, and City cannot afford to rely solely on their existing options if they want to compete at the highest level.
Manchester City Face Bournemouth Next
Manchester City will now turn their attention to the Premier League, with their opening fixture scheduled against Bournemouth on Sunday (23 August 2026).
That match will provide the first real opportunity to see how the squad performs in a competitive league environment.
By then, Manchester City may have completed another transfer or could still be working behind the scenes on new arrivals.
One thing is certain: the Community Shield defeat has not changed the club’s approach.
Maresca has confirmed that Manchester City remain active in the transfer market, while the possible arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi and the reported situation surrounding Rodri could make the final weeks of the window particularly interesting.
With the Premier League campaign about to begin, Manchester City are clearly not finished building their squad—and the next few weeks could bring another major twist in their summer transfer plans.
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