Manchester City Target Bayer Leverkusen Star Ibo Maza

Manchester City have picked their next target from the Bundesliga production line. This time, the spotlight falls on Bayer Leverkusen’s rising midfielder Ibo Maza – and the Premier League champions believe they might have an edge.

One detail will not have gone unnoticed in Manchester: Maza is represented by the same agency that brokered Omar Marmoush’s move from Eintracht Frankfurt to City in early 2025. That relationship smoothed one major deal. City hope it can do the same again.

Pep Guardiola has rarely missed when he has gone shopping in Germany. In 2022, City triggered Erling Haaland’s release clause at Borussia Dortmund and changed the face of their attack. A year later, Josko Gvardiol arrived from RB Leipzig for €90 million to anchor the defence. Now the search has moved to midfield.

Bernardo Silva, a cornerstone of Guardiola’s side since 2017, is heading for the exit with his expiring contract not being renewed. City need a new creative heartbeat. Maza, at 22 and already dictating games in the Bundesliga, fits the profile.

From Hertha to indispensable at Leverkusen

Leverkusen plucked Maza from second-tier Hertha BSC last summer for €12 million. It looked a smart, forward-thinking move at the time. It now looks like a bargain.

Thrown into an ambitious Bayer side, the attacking midfielder did not just adapt; he accelerated. He forced his way into the starting XI, then stayed there. Coaches stopped rotating him. Teammates started looking for him.

Across 38 appearances for the Werkself so far, Maza has delivered five goals and six assists. The numbers tell only part of the story, but they underline why he has become an indispensable part of Xabi Alonso’s attacking structure.

Leverkusen moved quickly to protect their asset. Maza is under contract until 2030, a statement deal that signals exactly how the club view his future. They do not intend to lose him cheaply or easily.

Rolfes draws the line

Sporting director Simon Rolfes has already used Maza’s emergence to close one door in the market. When asked in mid-March on Sport1’s “Doppelpass” about a possible return for Julian Brandt, who is set to leave Dortmund on a free transfer this summer, Rolfes was blunt.

“We have a superb player in that position in Ibo Maza, who will develop excellently over the coming years. For that reason, Julian will not be on our radar,” he said.

That comment did two things at once. It underlined Leverkusen’s faith in Maza as their long-term No 10. It also sent a message to suitors: if you want him, you are not just signing a promising youngster, you are trying to take away a central pillar of their project.

Heavyweights queue up – at a price

City are not alone. AC Milan and Atlético Madrid have also been linked with the Algerian international in recent weeks. His name has moved from scouting reports to boardroom discussions.

Leverkusen, though, are said to be willing to talk only if their valuation is met. The figure is clear: €45 million. Anything less, and the answer is no.

For a player signed for €12 million less than a year ago, that represents a rapid rise in market value. For clubs watching his trajectory, it might still feel like an investment ahead of the curve.

A World Cup shop window

Maza’s price could climb higher this summer. The World Cup offers him a global stage – and a demanding one.

Born in Berlin, he came through the DFB system, representing Germany from U18 to U20 level. His technical schooling is unmistakably German academy. His international future, though, lies with Algeria, the country of his father. His mother is Vietnamese, adding another layer to a strikingly modern football story.

He made his debut for Algeria in October 2024 and used the recent Africa Cup of Nations to announce himself to a wider audience. Strong performances there have turned him into one of Algeria’s major hopes ahead of the World Cup.

The task in the group stage is daunting. Algeria have been drawn with defending champions Argentina, a well-drilled Austria side and Jordan. It is a group that punishes hesitation. It is also a perfect arena for a fearless playmaker to tilt a game.

If Maza shines against that level of opposition, the €45 million asking price may start to look conservative. City, Milan, Atlético – and perhaps others – will be watching every touch.

Leverkusen, for now, hold the cards. The question is how long they can keep them once the World Cup whistle blows and the market truly wakes up.