Kovacic told to find new club as City midfield gets makeover

Midfielder surplus to requirements

Mateo Kovacic has been told he can leave Manchester City this summer, according to reports. The Croatian midfielder has been deemed surplus to requirements at the Etihad after a difficult, injury-hit campaign.

The 32-year-old joined City from Chelsea in June 2023 for an initial £25m and has made 97 appearances for the club. But only nine of those came in 2025-26, with an ankle problem sidelining him while City pushed to win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Football Insider reports that Kovacic is likely to depart before the transfer window closes.

Midfield reinforcements

City have already strengthened in midfield this summer with the club-record £116m arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Further incomings could follow, though Sandro Tonali — previously linked with a move to City — has joined Tottenham for £100m.

Kovacic did impress at the World Cup in 2026, one of the brighter performers as Croatia were narrowly eliminated by Portugal in Toronto.

Whether he features on City's Asia Tour — which takes up the first half of August ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal — remains to be seen. The tour could offer an early indication of what new manager Enzo Maresca wants from his midfielders, and whether Kovacic fits those plans.

If he does move on, he will follow John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Nathan Ake out of the door this summer as director of football Hugo Viana reshapes the squad.