FC Annecy are interested in Manchester City centre-back Luke Mbete. The 22-year-old defender, eligible for England and DR Congo, could bolster the Ligue 2 club's backline as they currently sit 5th in the table.
No agreement has yet been reached between the clubs. Any deal would require an accord between Manchester City and another club, with Mbete's contract at City running until June 2027. Annecy, with 6 points from three games and recent form of LWW, are looking to strengthen their squad for the season ahead.
Luke Mbete is a centre-back developed at Manchester City. He joined the club's academy in July 2020, progressing from the U18s. While he was part of the senior Premier League title-winning squad in the 2020-21 season, he has not yet broken into the first team. The player has had several loan spells to gain experience, including at FC Den Bosch, Bolton Wanderers, and Huddersfield Town. His most recent loan was at Northampton Town for the 2024-25 season, before returning to City's development group in May 2025.
His spell at Bolton Wanderers ended with a Football League Trophy triumph in the 2022-23 season. This term, he has not featured for Manchester City U21 in the current EFL Trophy campaign, where his team has played one possible match. His profile as a young but loan-experienced defender appears to interest Annecy's management.
FC Annecy, after a solid start to the season, may be looking to strengthen their defensive unit. The club has scored 4 goals and conceded 3 in three matchdays, with a +1 goal difference. Adding a defender like Mbete, who has experience in the English Championship and the Eredivisie, would bring depth and competition. The club is just 3 points behind leaders Saint-Étienne, and every reinforcement counts in the race at the top.
The defence is a key area to maintain positive momentum, especially ahead of a tricky away fixture at Grenoble, 12th in the table, scheduled for 4 September 2026. Fans can follow the build-up to this match on our fixtures page. Integrating a new player must happen quickly for him to be ready.
If the transfer materialises, Luke Mbete would need to adapt quickly to French football and Ligue 2. His recent lack of playing time with City's U21s is a note, but his multiple loans have built his character. He would also need to find his place in a squad that is performing well, as shown by the current league standing visible on our standings page.
His eligibility for two national teams, England and DR Congo, shows his potential, but the immediate focus would be on securing a starting spot at Annecy. The club offers a platform to restart his career and prove his worth at a competitive level, away from development teams.
Annecy's management is likely working on several deals before the transfer window closes. The link with Luke Mbete remains at the rumour stage for now. The immediate priority is preparing for the match against Grenoble, an important fixture to stay in the top five.
The technical staff will need to assess if Mbete's profile fits the tactical needs for the coming months. The team's statistics, available on our stats page, may guide this decision. For now, the current squad focuses on training, aiming to continue their good form and close the gap on leaders Saint-Étienne.
