Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images A Look At Some of Pep’s Best Defensive Signings The Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City will always be synonymous with attacking prowess, midfield strength and an almost watertight defence (2016/17 excluded). Many comments have been made around the money that Guardiola spent to take City to the next level, but the manager used his funds wisely (most of the time). But apart from high-profile names, Guardiola signed numerous players that had City fans wondering who they were. By the time they left the Etihad Stadium, most of Europe knew their names and became sought-after stars.In our first of three articles, we take a look at some of the defenders that were signed pretty much under the radar but went on to play a huge role in the success of Guardiola’s CityOleksandr ZinchenkoIt’s no secret that Pep’s first season was a difficult one for the Catalan boss. Guardiola had already spent around £163m but he’d seen something in the Ukraine youngster that made him spend just under £2m to secure his signing. It seemed like Zinchenko would be a bench player at best.Loaned out in his first season, Zinchenko didn’t make his debut for City until the following season, but he went on to make 128 appearances for the club, scoring twice and starting the Champions League Final in 2021. One of the most memorable Zinchenko moments came at home to Aston Villa on the final day of the 21/22 season. With the Blues 2-1 down, a bit of skill by the Ukrainian set up Rodri for the equaliser before the Blues secured the title with a 3-2 victory. Nathan AkeSigned in 2020 for £41m from Bournemouth, Nathan Ake putting pen to paper at the Etihad Stadium came as a surprise to many City fans. The Dutch defender was still relatively unknown in the Premier League despite making 121 appearances for Bournemouth.Ake started his senior career at Chelsea in 2012, making just 17 appearances in four seasons, which included three loan spells, before he made the move to the Cherries permanent in 2017. Relegation from the Premier League in 2020 opened the door for the defender to leave Dean Court and it was something of a surprise when he signed for the Blues.After a tough first season, Ake established himself as a solid, reliable centre-back and was part of the squad that won the European treble in 2023. Not bad for another player who had been rejected by Chelsea.Manuel Akanji – Dortmund £15mProbably the best example of an under-the-radar signing came in the form of Swiss star Manuel Akanji. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a modest fee of £15m. Akanji became an instant hit in the City defence and scored his first goal for the club in a memorable 4-0 victory over Real Madrid that sent City to the Champions League final for the second time in their history.A heart-stopping moment in the second half of that final saw a rare error from the Swiss star, left Blues fans hiding behind their hands, but Akanji got away with it and when Rodri scored the winner, the defender was the most relieved.The defender has now made 136 appearances, scoring five goals and continues to be one of the most relied upon stars in Pep’s side.The Evolution of John StonesIt’s fair to say that when John Stones arrived at City in 2016, he initially failed to live up to the £50m price tag City paid Everton. He was prone to errors and his inconsistent form threatened his place in the England side. Almost every weekend, there would be memes around social media asking who makes the better defender – John Stones or a pile of stones.But, as has been seen many times over the Pep years, players need one season to adapt to Guardiola’s way of thinking and playing and that’s exactly what happened with Stones. Pep moulded the defender almost to play a defensive midfield role and Stones revelled in this new position and soon, he became one of the most consistent players in City’s back line. Stones forced his way back into the England squad and had the fans chanting his name every game. His new-found consistency made his earlier form a thing of the past and Stones’ evolution at City is one of Pep’s greatest achievements when it comes to player enhancement.When historians look back on Pep’s legacy at Manchester City, they may focus on the trophies or the attacking flair. But his ability to identify, nurture, and transform raw talent into a complete player is unparalleled. The journeys of players like Zinchenko, Aké, Akanji and Stones exemplify this masterclass in player development. Like many others, they arrived at the Etihad without the pre-existing “world-beater” tag but, through Guardiola’s genius mind, his relentless demands in training and their own desire to improve, these defenders elevated their games to an elite level, becoming the quiet, yet indispensable rocks that form City’s backline. Their stories underscore that in Pep’s system, potential is often more valuable than immediate superstar status.Although Zinchenko later joined Arsenal, City were able to command a much higher fee than the one they paid, a tribute to Pep’s hard work and determination at developing players.