City free from Financial Fair Play restrictions

Blues expected to invest heavily in team in light of UEFA announcement

UEFA have announced that City have had the restriction on their transfer spending lifted after meeting the FFP targets they were set last summer. The Blues can also name a full 25 man squad in the Champions League, and are able to increase their wage bill.

City were deemed to have failed the new rules in 2014, and were fined £49m whilst only being able to register 21 players for European competition. This measure was seen by many as draconian, and there was a sense that the rules were aimed specifically at punishing City and Paris Saint Germain, rather than anything more altruistic. The exclusion of debt for the rules was notable.

This sense of frustration was heightened in recent weeks, as Michel Platini announced plans to relax the rules to allow accelerated owner investment in order to boost income, the very thing City were punished for.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak recently described the punishment as a "pinch", and City were always confident of breaking even by 2015. The club are now expected to pursue deals for Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, and Fabian Delph.