The club ended the previous season with the main issue being whether or not Pep Guardiola would decide to extend his contract as manager beyond the end of the 2024–25 season after nine years with the club.[3]Kevin De Bruyne was the only key player who would start the season in the final year of his existing contract, but there was also further speculation on the futures of Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva, as there had been in previous recent summers. Rumours also emerged that Ederson could be a target for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.[4]
A total of 13 current City players were selected for squads for Euro 2024, the joint most alongside Inter Milan, and one player was selected for the 2024 Copa América. Six of those players reached the semi-finals of these competitions played in the week commencing 8 July; five of those would go on to reach the respective finals played on 14 July; and two: Rodri for Spain and Julián Alvarez for Argentina, would celebrate as champions. Rodri was also recognised as the Player of the Tournament for Euro 2024.[5][6][7][8]
Players who had not participated in either competition returned to the club for pre-season training on 15 July to prepare for their forthcoming pre-season tour in the USA. Spanish defender Sergio Gómez had been the first senior player to be transferred, leaving the club after two seasons to join Real Sociedad on 12 July. The first transfer in was announced on 18 July when Brazilian winger Savinho joined from fellow CFG club Troyes, after a successful loan season at Girona, for a reported fee of £21 million.[9][10]
City took a largely inexperienced squad on their pre-season tour to the USA, selecting only 11 previous first team players who had not played at the Euros or Copa America.[11] Their two Croatian Internationals, Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić, who had returned from Germany after the group stages, joined the tour at its mid-point.[12] The remaining 14 players were allowed extended breaks and would join the squad after its return to the UK. However, this tour squad was able to perform well and only suffered narrow losses to Celtic and Milan, drew with Barcelona and beat Chelsea convincingly with a Haaland hat-trick. The performances of Haaland, Grealish and Oscar Bobb in particular stood out in these games with the latter demonstrating he was ready for more first-team appearances in the coming season.[13]
In their first competitive game of the season, City won the traditional curtain-raiser match between the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup winners and win the FA Community Shield, by beating fierce rivals Manchester United 7–6 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regular time. United opened the scoring in the 82nd minute with a strike from Alejandro Garnacho, and City equalised in the penultimate minute of normal time with a Bernardo Silva header from an excellent Oscar Bobb run and cross. Although Silva went on to see his first penalty saved, an Ederson save against Jadon Sancho and a miss from Jonny Evans saw City victorious in the penalty shoot-out. It was the first time since 2019 that City had won the competition after consecutive defeats in their previous three appearances.[2]
On 12 August, it was announced that Julián Alvarez would be joining Atlético Madrid for a reported initial fee of £64.4 million with up to £17.1 million in add-ons after two highly successful seasons with City. At the time, this was the highest transfer fee the club had ever received for a player and represented a significant profit for a player acquired for £14 million only two years previously. Álvarez had won a continental treble, a World Cup and a Copa America title while a City player.[14]
On 23 August, former captain İlkay Gündoğan returned to the club on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal after having spent the previous season at Barcelona.[15]
City began their league campaign with three strong performances and victories away to Chelsea and West Ham United, and at home to newly promoted Ipswich Town. The games against Ipswich and West Ham United included Haaland's 10th and 11th hat-tricks since he joined the club, as he became the Premier League player to score the most goals (7) in the first three games of the season.[16][17] They led the league from Liverpool on goals scored at the first international break with both clubs maintaining a 100% record and a goal difference of +7.
Updated to match(es) played on 1 September 2024. Source: Premier League Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) If the champions, relegated teams or qualified teams for UEFA competitions cannot be determined by rules 1 to 3, rules 4.1 to 4.3 are applied – 4.1) Points gained in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.2) Away goals scored in head-to-head record between such teams; 4.3) Play-offs[53]
Appearances () numbers are for appearances in competitive games only, including substitute appearances. Red card numbers denote:numbers in parentheses represent red cards overturned for wrongful dismissal. Source for all stats:[58]
The list is sorted by shirt number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play.
Benfica
Rennes
Dario Sarmiento
Lewis Fiorini
Alex Robertson
Cardiff City
Al Hilal
Tomas Galvez
LASK
Como
Issa Kaboré
Sparta Prague 
) numbers are for appearances in competitive games only, including substitute appearances.
