Man City have employed some excellent French players in the Premier League era, and here we have picked out some of the Etihad's favourites.
Manchester City have had a number of French players during the Premier League era, many of whom have helped them to eight league titles.
One of their current star players has been France international Rayan Cherki, who has already made his mark at the Etihad Stadium since signing from Lyon last summer.
City have had several high-quality players from across the Channel since the 1990s and in this article, we look at the most influential.
Nicolas Anelka
The enigmatic striker played for 12 different teams during his illustrious career, which includes a three-year spell at Man City.
Anelka had a goal record of 45 in 103 appearances, having joined the club in 2002 after an impressive spell on loan at Liverpool.
A Champions League winner at Real Madrid and European champion with France, Anelka didn’t win a trophy during his time at City.
Rayan Cherki
Not many people would have known too much about Cherki before his summer move from Lyon, but he has made a big impression in his first Premier League season.
The attacker has scored 10 goals across all competitions, while also chalking up 13 assists, and looks likely to be part of the French squad that goes to the World Cup.
The 22-year-old signed for City at a cost of around £35m and looks to have a big future ahead of him for both club and country.
Gael Clichy
After eight years at Arsenal, Clichy joined Man City in the summer of 2011 and went on to make 203 appearances for the Blues.
The left-back made his competitive debut in a Community Shield Manchester derby and won the title in his first season at the club, 2011-12.
Clichy also lifted the Premier League trophy in 2013-14, while also winning the EFL Cup on two separate occasions.
Sylvain Distin
Defender Distin is the French player with the most appearances for Man City, after spending five years with the club between 2002 and 2007.
The former Paris Saint-Germain stopper played over 200 times for the Citizens, joining from the French giants following a successful loan spell with Newcastle.
A £4m signing, Distin went on to become City captain and the centre-back was voted the club’s Player of the Year in 2002-03.
Eliaquim Mangala
After spells at Standard Liege and Porto, City forked out around £30m on Mangala in the summer of 2014 and the defender initially formed a centre-back partnership with Vincent Kompany, but fitness issues plagued his time at the club.
Although he was part of the title-winning team in 2017-18, Mangala only made nine league appearances in that season and was sold to Spanish outfit Valencia in the summer of 2019.
Benjamin Mendy
After impressive spells at Marseille and Monaco, City splashed the cash on defender Mendy, paying a fee of around £50million in July 2017.
The left-back suffered an ACL injury against Crystal Palace in September that year and didn’t return to action until April 2018.
Mendy made 75 appearances across all competitions for City, before he was released from his contract in June 2023.
Samir Nasri
Another player who moved from Arsenal to the Etihad, Nasri spent six years at City and made over 150 appearances for the club.
After leaving the Citizens, the two-time Premier League winner enjoyed spells with Sevilla, Antalyaspor, West Ham and Anderlecht.
The midfielder won 41 caps for his country and scored five goals for France, including a strike against England at Euro 2012.
Bacary Sagna
Another man to play for both Arsenal and City, Sagna moved to Manchester on a free transfer in 2014 after seeing out his contract with the Gunners.
The full-back won the EFL Cup with City in 2015-16 and featured 86 times during a three-year spell.
Sagna went on to play for Benevento in Italy before ending his career with MLS outfit Montreal Impact.
Antoine Sibierski
After joining from Lens in 2003, Sibierski became something of a cult hero with the City fans during a three-year spell at the Etihad.
He cost the Blues £700,000 and he went on to score 15 goals in 107 appearances before being released in the summer of 2006.
The former Lille man spent the rest of his career in England, with stints at Newcastle, Wigan and on loan at Norwich.
Patrick Vieira
Arguably the most famous Frenchman to wear the City kit, Vieira ended his playing career at the Etihad following spells with AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan.
The World Cup winner originally signed a six-month contract with the Citizens before agreeing to a one-year extension in the summer of 2011.
Vieira won the FA Cup during his time with City, coming on as a stoppage-time substitute in the Wembley win over Stoke City.
