Manchester City are back at the City Football Academy, with pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 campaign already under way. Day two of training brought a host of familiar faces back to the Etihad Campus — and one very notable new arrival to the goalkeeping department who has set supporters buzzing with excitement.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was among those to report for duty at the CFA, with the Italy international settling into pre-season life alongside his new teammates. The towering shot-stopper — widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in European football — looked delighted to be getting started, and his presence gives Enzo Maresca’s squad a significant upgrade between the posts.
Phil Foden was also back on the training pitch, where he remains at the creative heart of the squad. Several City players had extended summers following involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — not least Rodri, whose contribution to Spain’s triumph added yet another remarkable chapter to his already storied career. Foden and others have now returned refreshed and ready to compete in 2026/27.
Maresca has used the summer window to reshape his squad, and the changes are already evident. Elliot Anderson, who joined City from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £116 million, will be pushing hard to impress during the pre-season period, while Donnarumma’s arrival addresses a position Maresca clearly identified as a priority heading into the new campaign.
Asia Tour: Hong Kong and Seoul on the Agenda
Before the Premier League season gets under way, City are heading east for a pre-season tour of Asia. The Blues will visit both Hong Kong and Seoul, where they will take on three opponents of genuine quality: Inter Milan, a K-League All Stars XI, and Atlético Madrid. All three fixtures will be available to watch live on CITY+, the club’s official streaming service, giving fans across Asia the chance to follow every moment of the action.
It is not City’s first visit to Seoul, and the reception from fans in South Korea is invariably warm and enthusiastic. With new signings such as Donnarumma in the squad alongside established stars like Foden, this year’s Asia tour has an added sense of occasion. Supporters in Hong Kong and Seoul can expect to see a team that has been meaningfully strengthened over the summer.
A Competitive 2026/27 Season in Prospect
City enter the new campaign fully aware of the challenge that awaits. Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea are building with serious intent at Stamford Bridge, while Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham have invested heavily across the squad. Maresca and his players know that any title ambitions will require the very highest level of performance from day one of the Premier League season.
The Asia tour gives the manager his first extended opportunity to assess his full squad in match conditions, to bed in new arrivals, and to sharpen the tactical patterns he wants to establish. With training now well under way at the City Football Academy, the countdown to competitive action is on.
