Nathan Aké

Aké is the squad’s tactical Swiss Army knife. If Van Dijk needs a left-footed partner, Aké slots in centrally; if Hato is rested at left-back, Aké shifts wide. His ability to drop in as a third centre-back during buildup is also exactly what Koeman’s hybrid back-three system requires.

Strengths

• Two-footed comfort across the back line
• Composure in possession from defensive third
• Aerial duels for his height

Recent form

City rotation regular in 2025-26; healthy heading into camp.

His father is Ivorian and his mother Dutch — he turned down a Côte d'Ivoire approach as a teenager to commit to the Oranje youth setup.