Man City receive £20m summer transfer boost as Southampton beat Leeds in play-off final

Manchester City received a timely financial boost on Sunday ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

The market officially opens on 14 June, although clubs can of course arrange some business ahead of time - for instance Wolverhampton Wanderers have already agreed the permanent signing of Tommy Doyle, a deal that will be ratified on 1 July.

The midfielder’s initial loan at Molineux has been made permanent, a policy City have used with several youth players in recent years. One such example is Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Southampton.

The centre-back made 46 appearances for the Saints this term and played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as the south-coast club secured their place back in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 play-off final victory over Leeds United.

That could have a direct impact on City’s summer plans, with promotion triggering the clause in Harwood-Bellis’ loan to make the deal permanent. Southampton will now play £20m for the defender, who made eight senior appearances for City.

Harwood-Bellis is the fifth player in the last two years to swap the Etihad for St Marys, along with Gavin Bazunu, Juan Larios, Samuel Edozie and Shea Charles.

The £20m received from Southampton could help free up funds for incomings this summer. Asked on Saturday about the club’s plans in the market, Guardiola said: “I don’t know right now. I know some players have to take a decision on whether they stay with us, some players might come.

“My sporting director says everything is fine for next year but right now I don’t know what might happen.”