Manchester City has given the green light to an undisclosed offer from Al-Nassr for the transfer of Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte.

Throughout the 2021-22 season, the 29-year-old accumulated 43 starts, but manager Pep Guardiola leaned more towards Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake during City’s triumphant campaign for the Treble.

This summer, City invested £77 million in acquiring another left-sided defender, 21-year-old Josko Gvardiol from Croatia.

Laporte may soon be seen in the company of players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles at Al-Nassr.

Laporte initially joined City from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018 for a then-club record fee of £57 million. His transfer marked a shift in international allegiance from France to Spain in 2021.

Guardiola, who had assumed the managerial role at City a year and a half prior to Laporte’s arrival, harnessed the defender’s proficiency in ball distribution from the defensive line, contributing to the team’s five out of six Premier League title wins in recent seasons.

Laporte accumulated 51 appearances during the 2018-19 season and 44 during 2021-22, prior to the arrivals of Ake and Akanji, which consequently diminished his impact and playing time.

Having appeared 180 times for City and netting 12 goals, Laporte also boasts 22 caps for Spain, a feat that culminated in their victory in the UEFA Nations League final this past June.

Al-Nassr, having secured the signature of five-time Ballon d’Or awardee Cristiano Ronaldo in December, emerged as one of four Saudi Pro League clubs acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in June. The other clubs in this takeover include Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli.

Ronaldo’s signing was swiftly followed by the recruitment of players such as Mane, Brozovic, Telles, and Seko Fofana during the current summer transfer window.