Man City transfer news: ‘Verbal agreement’ reached to sell £50m player before deadline

Manchester City have agreed to sell midfielder Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle United, according to a report.

The 24-year-old was signed by the Citizens from Porto for £50m in February 2025 at a time when the club was desperate to reinforce their midfield to cope without injured star Rodri.

Following Rodri’s return, Gonzalez was unable to establish himself as a first-team regular, starting only 18 Premier League matches last season.

The Spaniard now appears to have found himself on the fringes of the first team under new head coach Enzo Maresca, despite the departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva this summer.

Gonzalez watched on as an unused substitute as Man City came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 on the opening weekend o the new Premier League season, with Marc Guehi preferred to surprisingly start as a holding midfielder.

Earlier this summer, Gonzalez said that he is “really happy” at Man City, adding: “I don’t want to leave and I think the club wants me to stay. I haven't seen anything but I'm happy here.

"My dream is to win trophies. If I don't play any matches and we win the Champions League next year, I will be so happy."

Gonzalez set to become Newcastle's seventh signing as Man City agree sale

Gonzalez still has three years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, but his time at on the blue side of Manchester now appears to be drawing to a close less than two years after his arrival.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Newcastle have reached a verbal agreement with Man City to sign the midfielder for £50m, with £47m to be paid up front plus £3m in add-ons.

Following positive rounds of negotiations over the last couple of weeks, Man City have now given the green light for Gonzalez to make the permanent move to St James’ Park.

Gonzalez is now expected to undergo a medical and sign his contract before becoming the seventh signing of the summer transfer window for Matthias Jaissle's side

Following the high-profile exits of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle have already added midfield duo Aladji Bamba, 20, and Sean Steur, 18, to their squad, but the arrival of Gonzalez represents a more established signing with some Premier League experience.

Man City’s willingness to part ways with Gonzalez comes after the club agreed a £85.6m deal to sign 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the Moroccan scheduled to undergo a medical in the UK this week.

The Citizens also still hold an interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who is valued at around £120m and is believed to be keen to reunite with former boss Maresca at the Etihad before the September 1 deadline.