Manchester City have been found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules covering the period between 2009 and 2018. The Premier League alleged that the club arranged sham contracts with commercial partners to inflate revenues and suppress costs — giving them an artificial financial edge in the transfer market. Here is a look at every notable player they signed during that time.

2009/10 season

Stuart Taylor arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal as backup goalkeeper, making a single league appearance across three seasons before departing for Reading. Gareth Barry followed for £12 million from Aston Villa — a statement signing of genuine quality. The England midfielder spent five years at the Etihad Stadium, winning the Premier League title and the FA Cup, and eventually surpassed the all-time Premier League appearance record.

Roque Santa Cruz cost £18 million from Blackburn Rovers but managed just 20 league outings, even returning to Ewood Park on loan in 2011. Carlos Tevez arrived for £25.5 million — the biggest transfer in that summer window — bringing the relentless hunger that would come to define City's rise. His signing from Manchester United's city rivals sharpened one of English football's fiercest derbies further still.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure each departed Arsenal for the Etihad in deals worth £25 million and £16 million respectively, while former Barcelona full-back Sylvinho joined on a free. Joleon Lescott cost £22 million from Everton, seen at the time as a future cornerstone of England's defence. Loris Karius also arrived on undisclosed terms as an early indicator of City's interest in long-term talent.

In early 2010, Patrick Vieira signed on a free — notably not as a player but to lead City's Elite Development Squad. The World Cup winner would later become manager of New York City FC in 2016. Adam Johnson joined for £11 million at age 22, though he failed to fulfil his early promise at the club and was later convicted of child grooming offences, receiving a six-year prison sentence.

2010/11 season

Jerome Boateng arrived from Hamburg for £10 million — an able performer who departed for Bayern Munich after a single season. Yaya Toure signed from Barcelona for £24 million in what was genuinely the biggest English transfer of that summer window. The Ivorian became a club legend, powering City's first FA Cup triumph in 2011 and contributing 20 league goals during their second Premier League title triumph.

David Silva arrived for £24 million from Valencia and proved one of the era's finest signings — a silky, possession-oriented playmaker who would later epitomise the Pep Guardiola style long before Guardiola himself arrived. Aleksandar Kolarov signed from Lazio for £16 million, going on to make nearly 250 appearances across seven seasons.

Mario Balotelli joined for £24 million from Internazionale — a flamboyant talent who scored 30 goals in 80 appearances and captured the imagination of neutrals worldwide. James Milner arrived from Aston Villa for £18 million and proved a relentless presence, eventually departing for Liverpool on a free transfer.

2011/12 season

Edin Dzeko cost £27 million from Wolfsburg and delivered remarkable value, netting 19, 15, and 26 goals in his first three seasons — making him one of the most underrated strikers of the Premier League era. Gael Clichy joined from Arsenal for £10 million, adding competition at left-back as City closed in on their first title in 44 years.

Stefan Savic arrived for £15 million from Partizan and provided cover across 12 appearances in the title-winning campaign, departing after one season. He would later become better known to some fans as the Atletico Madrid defender involved in a celebrated incident with Jack Grealish in 2022.

Sergio Aguero signed for £36 million from Atletico Madrid — again the most expensive deal in a Premier League window — and delivered an almost immediate return. He scored the title-winning goal in his debut season, shattered City's all-time scoring record, and cemented his place among the very greatest signings of the Abu Dhabi era. Samir Nasri followed from Arsenal for £24 million, continuing a pattern that saw City repeatedly outmuscle the Gunners in the market during this period.