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Manuel Akanji joined Inter Milan on a season-long loan from Manchester City on September 2, 2025, with the clubs agreeing to a €2 million loan fee and a €15 million purchase option attached to specific performance conditions. By May 2026, those conditions were met, and the transfer was made permanent for approximately £13 million.
From Manchester’s bench to Milan’s backbone
Akanji’s departure from Manchester City was driven by a familiar problem in modern football: a world-class squad with too many world-class players. Playing time had dried up, and the defender needed minutes that Pep Guardiola’s roster simply couldn’t guarantee.
Inter, under newly appointed head coach Cristian Chivu, offered exactly what Akanji needed. Chivu took charge in June 2025 with a clear mandate to build a defensively resolute side.
Akanji made 33 Serie A appearances during the 2025-26 season and chipped in with 2 goals. For a center-back who had been watching from the sidelines in Manchester, that kind of consistency is the definition of a fresh start.
By February 2026, reports indicated Inter was already prepared to activate the buy clause. The club was reportedly willing to pay the roughly £13 million fee regardless of how the rest of the season played out.
Chivu’s defensive revolution
Cristian Chivu’s appointment as Inter head coach was itself a significant moment for the club. The former Inter defender, who spent years working his way through the club’s youth coaching ranks, took the top job in June 2025. Under Chivu’s guidance, Inter secured both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in his debut season.
The buy clause in Akanji’s loan agreement was specifically tied to performance conditions, with a Serie A title win being a key trigger. When Inter clinched the Scudetto, the purchase obligation kicked in automatically.
Akanji has been vocal about his happiness in Milan. After a period of frustration at Manchester City where opportunities were limited, the 29-year-old found both playing time and purpose at San Siro. His desire for a long-term stay at the club aligns with what Inter’s management clearly wanted as well.
What this means for Inter’s defensive future
Look at the economics here. A €2 million loan fee plus a roughly £13 million permanent transfer for a defender with Premier League and Champions League experience, one who just helped deliver a league title. In a market where mediocre center-backs routinely command fees north of €30 million, Inter got themselves a bargain.
For Manchester City, the deal represents the final chapter of a squad management exercise. Akanji was a useful player who no longer fit the rotation. Recouping a decent fee while freeing up wages is a clean resolution for both sides.
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