Manchester United Fail to Sign Rayan Aït Nouri from Manchester City

As the transfer window slammed shut, Manchester United's last-minute bid for Rayan Aït Nouri ended in disappointment. The club sought to bolster its defensive line by approaching Manchester City for the Algerian full-back, but negotiations did not yield a positive outcome.

United was looking to address concerns in their backline, particularly as they navigated a challenging start to the season. The Red Devils had already abandoned pursuits for other targets, including Alejandro Balde from Barcelona and Jorge Salinas from Racing Santander. With the deadline looming, the focus turned to Aït Nouri. However, City made it clear that they were only willing to entertain a loan deal that included an obligation to buy, a condition United rejected outright.

Despite not featuring in any of City's opening matches this season, Aït Nouri remains an important asset for the club. He joined City for £31 million from Wolves in June 2025 but had a subdued debut campaign, starting only 12 Premier League games. The 25-year-old’s lack of game time this season sees him positioned third in the pecking order at left-back, behind Joško Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly.

The significance of this failed deal cannot be overstated. If Aït Nouri had made the switch, it would have marked a rare instance of a player moving directly between the Manchester clubs for a transfer fee since Terry Cooke in 1999. United's failure to secure Aït Nouri means they will continue with their current options, including 19-year-old Harry Amass, who has been primarily serving as a backup to Luke Shaw.

In addition to Aït Nouri, United also missed out on Leicester City’s promising midfielder Louis Page. Initially, there was optimism surrounding this potential signing, but the deal fell apart as Page was included in Leicester's squad for their League One match, indicating his commitment to the club. Leicester reportedly sought over £10 million for the 18-year-old, who has made a name for himself with 25 appearances since making his debut last year.

With the transfer window closed, Manchester United now faces the challenge of integrating their new signings and addressing the defensive weaknesses that prompted their late pursuit of Aït Nouri. The stakes are high as they aim to compete effectively in the Premier League this season, and the pressure will be on manager Michael Carrick to ensure that the squad can rise to the occasion without the additional depth that Aït Nouri could have provided.