Primary Position – Centre-Back

Other position(s) – Left Back

Last two seasons’ form – Games 67 / Goals 6 / Assists 3

Born in the Netherlands in February of 1995, Aké joined the Chelsea youth system at the age of 15 from Feyenoord in 2010. He enjoyed a successful stint with the Blues in their U-21 team and featured sporadically for the first team in cup matches until he was handed his full Premier League debut against in Everton on the last day of the 2013/14 season. Despite signing a new contract in August 2013, he made only two league appearances for the Blues over the next two seasons. He was then loaned out to Championship club Reading where he featured in five league games. He spent the 2015/16 season on loan at Watford where he was deployed primarily as a left-back. He made 24 appearances for the Hornets, scoring one goal. The Dutchman was then loaned out to Bournemouth for the 2016/17 season where he made 10 appearances, scoring three goals. He was recalled by Chelsea in the January transfer window when the Blues were short of depth in defence. Bournemouth signed the Dutchman permanently in June 2017 for a club record £20 million transfer fee. He featured in every single league game for the Cherries in the 2017/18 and the 2018/19 seasons, notching six goals and four assists. Injury issues restricted his appearances to just 29 in 2019/20. A popular Fantasy Premier League (FPL) asset, Aké was an ever present for Bournemouth and was often the first choice for managers who wanted to buy a defensive asset from the Cherries, primarily because of his threat from set pieces. Man. City were exposed in defence last year after the injury to Laporte with none of Otamendi, Stones or Fernandinho impressing when called upon. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Aké should see plenty of gametime for Guardiola’s side and offers considerable attacking threat as well from set pieces. At a price of just 5.5m, he could prove to be great value if he can adapt to Guardiola’s methods from the off. The fact that he has missed just 9 games over the last three season also allays any fitness concerns.  

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