Wilfried Bony’s Manchester City career and Premier League story is one shaped by timing, form and fine margins. For a brief period in the middle of the last decade, the Ivorian striker was one of the most feared forwards in English football.
Goals came regularly, defenders struggled to contain him and Europe’s top clubs were watching closely.
Yet what should have been the fulfilment of a long-held ambition – a move to Arsenal under Arsene Wenger – never happened.
Instead, Bony found himself wearing sky blue at Manchester City, having accepted an offer that proved impossible for the north London club to match.
Speaking years later, the former Swansea City striker has reflected openly on how close he came to joining Arsenal, why the deal collapsed and how circumstances ultimately shaped a difficult spell at City.
From Swansea sensation to transfer target
By the end of 2014, Bony’s rise had been rapid and convincing. After arriving in the Premier League with Swansea City, he adapted quickly, combining physical strength with intelligent movement and a reliable eye for goal.
That calendar year, he finished as the division’s top scorer, outshining established names across England’s elite clubs.
His numbers underlined his impact. Across all competitions, he struck 34 goals in 70 appearances for Swansea, while also delivering for Ivory Coast on the international stage. It was form that naturally attracted attention from elsewhere in the league.
Bony later confirmed that several clubs were monitoring his situation closely as his first full season in England came to an end.
“There were three clubs interested in signing me after my first season at Swansea: Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City,” Bony told Ladbrokes as reported by the Metro Sports.
For the striker, the interest was flattering, but it was Arsenal who captured his imagination. Wenger’s side, known for their technical style and attacking football, felt like the perfect next step.
“It pleased me that it was clubs like City and Arsenal who wanted to sign me because of the way they played. City’s way of playing was very similar to Swansea’s, so I knew that the intensity and everything would be fine. I was happy about that.”
Despite that reassurance about City, Bony’s preference was clear. He believed Arsenal represented both a sporting challenge and a personal dream. However, events were already moving quickly behind the scenes at Swansea.
With speculation growing and January approaching, Bony sensed a change in his situation.
“I knew that Swansea wanted to sell me because I started being put on the bench,” he explained.
The timing complicated matters further. Ivory Coast were preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament that would demand full focus and physical commitment.
“When the time came to move, I was thinking about the African Cup and preparing myself for that. So when the opportunity to move came, I wanted it sorted quickly so that I was mentally ready for the tournament.”
As negotiations progressed, Arsenal’s interest remained genuine, but financial realities soon created a decisive obstacle.
The move that never was – and the City chapter
Manchester City’s approach came late but carried significant weight. Their offer eclipsed those of their rivals, particularly in terms of wages, and shifted the balance of the transfer race almost overnight.
“City made their offer at the last minute – I wanted to join Arsenal. But at that time, the money City put on the table was something that nobody could match, especially in terms of salary.”
For Wenger, the numbers proved too much. Despite his admiration for the player, Arsenal were unwilling to stretch their wage structure.
“When Arsene Wenger heard about the salary, he said, “That’s too big for us! That’s too big for us!”.”
Bony made one final attempt to salvage his preferred move. A meeting was arranged when Swansea faced Arsenal, giving him the chance to speak directly to Wenger once more.
“I wanted to join Arsenal, so I met him again in Swansea when we were playing against them. I spoke to him in the Marriott hotel, and again Wenger said that the salary would be too much for them.”
With Arsenal out of the running, City completed the deal. The striker joined for a fee reported at £25m, with add-ons pushing the total higher, and wages understood to be around £100,000 per week. At the time, it made him the most expensive African footballer in history and Wilfried Bony’s Manchester City career began with high hope.
However, the circumstances of his arrival were far from ideal.
“I signed for the club while I was in Abu Dhabi, where the Ivory Coast were based in preparation for the AFCON,” he said.
Ivory Coast went on to win the tournament, a moment of pride and celebration, but one that took a physical toll. Bony returned to England exhausted, struggling to recover before being thrust into high-intensity fixtures almost immediately.
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“I only regret one thing: When I returned from the AFCON, I was tired. I was tired because of the heat, because of the intensity, because of everything. I was cooked. It was difficult for me to match the level where I wanted to be, what I had to be to stand out.”
“We had a party to celebrate winning the Africa Cup, but within a week I needed to play against Newcastle and then Barcelona. So everything was bam, bam, bam, and the heat added to it, which was up to 42°C. Then to go to Manchester and England, which was below 10°C at that time, does affect you.”
Injuries soon followed, disrupting any rhythm and confidence he hoped to build.
“In 18 months, I was fit for just three months because I kept getting injured.”
At a club like City, patience was limited. Competition for places was fierce, with Sergio Aguero firmly established as the first-choice striker.
“And it’s difficult at clubs like City, who can buy any player they want rather than wait for you to get fit. So if they put a price on you and you’ve not performed, it’s difficult for you to stay there.”
Wilfried Bony’s Manchester City career yielded just 10 goals in 46 appearances. While he did collect a League Cup winners’ medal, the move never delivered the fulfilment he had imagined.
