| Age: | 21 years |
| Date of birth: | August 17, 2003 |
| Height, weight: | 177 cm, 71 kg |
| Place of birth: | Lyon, France |
| Citizenship: | France (also has Algerian roots) |
| Position: | attacking midfielder / winger |
| Club: | Olympique Lyon |
| Number: | 18 |
| In the team since: | 2019 (first team) |
| Contract until: | 2026 |
| Contract extensions: | extended contract in 2023 |
| Market value: | ~25-30 million € |
| Eye color: | brown |
| Preferred foot: | right (but plays well with both) |
| Agent: | Karim Djaziri |
Biography of Rayan Cherki
Mathis Rayan Cherki - French attacking midfielder and winger playing for Manchester City and the France national team.
A product of the Lyon academy, which he joined at the age of seven. At 15, he was already playing for the club's reserve team in Championnat National 2 and was considered one of the most talented academy graduates in its history.
Lyon (2019-2025)
- Signed his first professional contract in July 2019.
- Made his Ligue 1 debut on October 19, 2019 against Dijon.
- In January 2020 became the youngest goalscorer in Lyon first-team history (16 years and 140 days).
- Scored a brace and provided two assists against Nantes in the French Cup.
- In August 2020 became the youngest player to appear in a Champions League semi-final.
- On May 2, 2021 scored his first Ligue 1 goal against Monaco.
- In September 2024 extended his contract with Lyon until 2027.
- In the 2024-25 season became Ligue 1 top assist provider (11 assists).
- Included in the UNFP Team of the Season.
- Won the "Best Dribbler of the Year" award.
- Provided 8 assists in the Europa League and was named best young player of the tournament.
Manchester City (since 2025)
- Joined Manchester City on June 10, 2025.
- Scored his first goal for the club on June 22, 2025.
- Received the number 10 shirt after Jack Grealish left.
- Scored in his Premier League debut.
- Recorded a goal and an assist in the League Cup.
- Scored his first Champions League goal for City.
International career
- Eligible to represent France, Algeria or Italy, but chose France.
- Played for French youth national teams.
- Won Olympic silver at the 2024 Paris Games.
- Awarded the Order of Merit.
- Made his senior France debut on June 5, 2025.
- Scored and assisted in his first match.
Personal life of Rayan Cherki
Born in Lyon to a family with Algerian and Italian roots.
- Father Fabrice Amsellem has Algerian-Italian Jewish origins.
- Mother Abla Cherki is of Algerian origin.
- He is the third of five brothers.
- His mother played an active role in managing his career.
- His father played amateur football.
Cherki is known for his strong character and high self-confidence. He openly speaks about his ambitions and strives for entertaining football.
He regularly reviews his own matches to improve his performance.
Interesting facts about Rayan Cherki
- The youngest player to appear in a Champions League semi-final.
- Lyon's youngest-ever goalscorer.
- Top assist provider in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League in one season.
- First winner of the "Best Dribbler of the Year" award.
- Received a French state order after Olympic silver.
- Got the iconic number 10 at Manchester City in his first season.
- Known for his creative and high-risk playing style.
Rayan Cherki statistics
Olympique Lyon (2019-2025)
| Season | League | Cups | European competitions | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 6 / 0 | 5 / 3 | 2 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 13 / 3 |
| 2020/21 | 27 / 1 | 3 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 30 / 4 |
| 2021/22 | 16 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 20 / 2 |
| 2022/23 | 34 / 4 | 5 / 1 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 39 / 5 |
| 2023/24 | 33 / 1 | 6 / 2 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 39 / 3 |
| 2024/25 | 30 / 8 | 2 / 0 | 12 / 4 | 0 / 0 | 44 / 12 |
| Total | 146 / 14 | 21 / 9 | 18 / 6 | 0 / 0 | 185 / 29 |
Manchester City (2024-present)
| Season | League | Cups | European competitions | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 4 / 1 | 4 / 1 |
| 2025/26 | 25 / 3 | 7 / 3 | 7 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 39 / 9 |
| Total | 25 / 3 | 7 / 3 | 7 / 3 | 4 / 1 | 43 / 10 |
Career total
| Category | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| League | 171 | 17 |
| Cups | 28 | 12 |
| European competitions | 25 | 9 |
| Other | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 228 | 39 |
France national team
- Matches: 4
- Goals: 1
- Wins: 3
- Draws: 0
- Losses: 1
Controversies involving Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki is not considered a player with a serious scandalous reputation, although there have been some episodes that sparked discussion.
He has occasionally been criticized:
- for excessive individualism on the pitch;
- for emotional reactions;
- for behavior during substitutions.
There were also reports of tense relationships with the Lyon coaching staff due to inconsistency and discipline issues.
However, these situations did not escalate into major conflicts, and he remains known primarily for his talent.
