Short answer: Manchester City’s best-known players include Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany, Bert Trautmann, Yaya Touré and David Silva, all with long careers in sky blue. This is an editorial selection of well-known club greats, not a measured ranking. Appearance, goal and honour figures come from mancity.com, last checked on 1 November 2026.

Manchester City is one of the most supported football clubs in the world, and its history includes many iconic figures. These players made their names in sky blue and left a lasting legacy in the game.

This countdown goes from number ten to number one and uses the club’s own figures for appearances, goals and honours.

What is this list based on?

This list is an editorial selection of well-known Manchester City greats, ordered by the FootGoal Editorial team. It is not a measured ranking: it is not based on votes, search data or any statistic, and fans will have their own order.

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The ten Manchester City players in this list: appearances and goals for the club in all competitions, and major honours won with City. Source: mancity.com player profiles and news pages, checked 1 November 2026. Where club pages give different totals, this is stated.
Rank Player Appearances Goals Major honours with the club
1 Sergio Agüero 390 260 5 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cups
2 Vincent Kompany 360 20 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups
3 Bert Trautmann 545 not applicable (goalkeeper) 1956 FA Cup
4 Yaya Touré 316 82 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cups
5 David Silva 436 77 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 5 League Cups
6 Tony Book 312 to 315 5 1 First Division title, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup
7 Colin Bell club pages differ club pages differ not confirmed
8 Francis Lee 330 148 1967/68 First Division title
9 Mike Summerbee 452 68 1 First Division title, 1 FA Cup
10 Joe Hart 348 not applicable (goalkeeper) 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups

10. Joe Hart

Appearances: 348

Honours: 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups

Joe Hart was Manchester City’s goalkeeper from 2006 to 2018. Club pages list 348 appearances, and he won four Premier League Golden Glove awards with City, the first in 2010/11 with 18 clean sheets.

His 29 clean sheets in 2010/11 are listed among City’s records. He won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at the club.

9. Mike Summerbee

Appearances: 452

Goals: 68

Honours: 1 First Division title (1968), 1 FA Cup (1969)

Mike Summerbee was a winger at City from 1965 to 1975. Club pages list 452 appearances and 68 goals; the club’s legends profile gives slightly lower figures (449 and 67).

He scored in the 4-3 win at Newcastle that clinched the 1968 league title, and his cross set up Neil Young’s goal in the 1969 FA Cup final. He won eight England caps.

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8. Francis Lee

Appearances: 330

Goals: 148

Honours: part of the 1967/68 First Division title side

Francis Lee, a prolific striker, scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for City between 1967 and 1975, according to the club, and sits seventh on the club’s all-time scoring list.

He was part of the side that won the 1967/68 First Division title, and with Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee he is honoured by a statue.

7. Colin Bell

Appearances: club pages differ (492 to 501)

Goals: club pages differ (152 or 153)

Honours: not confirmed on the club pages read

Colin Bell, known as “The King of the Kippax” after the famous Maine Road terrace, and as “Nijinsky” for his speed and stamina, spent 13 years at City. Official club pages give different totals: 492 appearances and 152 goals in the tribute published when he died, 498 and 153 on the legends profile, and 501 and 153 in later features. No single figure is used here.

The Etihad Stadium’s West Stand was named after him following a 2004 fans’ vote.

6. Tony Book

Appearances: 312 to 315 (club pages differ)

Goals: 5

Honours: 1 First Division title, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup

Tony Book joined City in 1966 and became captain for the 1967/68 season, playing in every game as City won the league title. The club lists 312 appearances on his legends profile and 315 in tribute pages, with five goals.

He later managed City from 1974 to 1979 and won the 1976 League Cup at Wembley. Book died in 2025 at the age of 90, and the club named him Honorary President.

5. David Silva

Appearances: 436

Goals: 77

Honours: 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 5 League Cups

David Silva played for City from 2010 to 2020. The club lists 436 appearances, 77 goals and 121 assists in all competitions, with 93 assists in the Premier League, the seventh-most in the competition’s history.

His retirement announcement credits four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups, and his vision made him a linchpin of City’s midfield.

4. Yaya Touré

Appearances: 316

Goals: 82

Honours: 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cups

Yaya Touré was City’s powerful Ivorian midfielder from 2010 to 2018. Most club pages give 316 appearances and 82 goals; the club’s legends profile shows lower totals (292 and 81).

He was integral to the Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014, and 2017/18 brought a third for him.

3. Bert Trautmann

Appearances: 545

Bert Trautmann was City’s goalkeeper from 1949 to 1964 and made 545 appearances, according to the club. He played the last 17 minutes of the 1956 FA Cup final against Birmingham City with a broken neck after a collision with Peter Murphy. City won 3-1. The break was confirmed by X-ray days later.

2. Vincent Kompany

Appearances: 360

Goals: 20

Honours: 4 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups

Vincent Kompany captained City from the heart of defence and played 360 games for the club, scoring 20 goals. The legends profile lists 338 appearances, but the club’s Hall of Fame announcement and his departure article both give 360.

He won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and two Community Shields, and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame alongside Sergio Agüero.

1. Sergio Agüero

Appearances: 390

Goals: 260

Honours: 5 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 6 League Cups

Sergio Agüero is City’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances. He broke Eric Brook’s 78-year club record on 1 November 2017, and his 184 Premier League goals put him among the competition’s leading scorers.

His stoppage-time winner against QPR on the last day of 2011/12 clinched the club’s first Premier League title. Agüero won 15 major trophies in total with City.

Conclusion

These ten players from goalkeepers to forwards have contributed to the history of one of the most supported Premier League football clubs and to the success of one of the richest football clubs.

Who is your favourite Manchester City player of all time? Share your memories of the players who have graced the Etihad Stadium in the comments below.

FAQ

Who is Manchester City’s all-time top scorer?

Sergio Agüero, with 260 goals in 390 appearances. He passed Eric Brook’s record on 1 November 2017.

Who made the most appearances for Manchester City?

Alan Oakes holds the record with 680 appearances. Mike Summerbee is on 452 and Bert Trautmann made 545.

How many Premier League titles did Vincent Kompany win with City?

Vincent Kompany won four Premier League titles, plus two FA Cups and four League Cups, in 360 appearances.

What happened to Bert Trautmann in the 1956 FA Cup final?

He played the last 17 minutes with a broken neck after a collision with Birmingham’s Peter Murphy, and City won 3-1. The injury was confirmed by X-ray days later.

How many trophies did Sergio Agüero win at City?

The club credits Sergio Agüero with 15 major trophies, including five Premier League titles, one FA Cup and six League Cups.

Is this a ranking of the best Manchester City players?

No. It is an editorial selection of well-known club greats, not a measured ranking based on votes or data.

Sources

Appearance and goal figures are those published on mancity.com, last checked on 1 November 2026. They count all competitions.