Nico González In 2026: Net Worth, Salary, Bio, Career, Transfer Value & FAQs

Profile

Bio

One of the most promising young midfielders in European football is Nicolás González Iglesias, or just Nico González. Nico was born in A Coruña, Spain, on January 3, 2002. His father, Fran González, was a former Spanish international and a great midfielder for Deportivo La Coruña. Nico's career has been influenced by his strong football heritage, which began when his uncle José Ramón played for the same team.

Nico, who is 1.88 meters tall, is a complete midfielder who can dominate games from deep positions by fusing technical skill with physical presence. He advanced through Barcelona's renowned La Masia system, made his mark at FC Porto, and ultimately secured a high-profile transfer to Manchester City in February 2025. His football career has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Career

Early Career and La Masia
At the age of seven, Nico started playing football for the local team Montañeros. Barcelona agreed to let him into their renowned La Masia academy in December 2012 after realizing his brilliance right away. He spent the following few years perfecting his abilities in one of the top youth football programs in the world, therefore this transfer would prove to be pivotal in his development as a player.

He made a consistent and remarkable rise through Barcelona's junior ranks. Nico made his Barcelona B senior debut on May 19, 2019, against Castellón in a Segunda División B game, at the age of just 17. His move to senior football began at this point. He established himself as a regular for the reserve squad by the 2020–21 campaign, displaying the skills that would eventually lead to a first-team opportunity.

Barcelona First Team
On August 15, 2021, Nico made his La Liga debut after replacing Sergio Busquets in Barcelona's season-opening match. This was his big break. Nico was viewed by many as the renowned Spanish midfielder's long-term successor, therefore that substitution was symbolic. Barcelona renewed the young player's contract until 2024 with an incredible €500 million buyout clause in May 2021, demonstrating their faith in him.

Nico scored the first goal in a 2-2 tie with Osasuna on December 12, 2021, his first professional goal while playing for the first squad. Due to intense competition in Barcelona's midfield, despite showing promise, playing time was restricted. As a result, the player was loaned to Valencia for the 2022–2023 season in order to obtain regular minutes and valuable experience.

FC Porto Success
Nico moved permanently to FC Porto, a Portuguese powerhouse, on July 29, 2023, for an estimated €8.5 million, with Barcelona keeping a buyback option. This turned out to be a pivotal time in his professional life. After coming off the bench in a 2-1 victory over Moreirense on August 14, he made his Porto debut and immediately became a vital member of the midfield.

Nico thrived in a more prominent role at Porto, showcasing his capacity to control play from deep positions. The greatest clubs in Europe were drawn to his exploits in the UEFA Champions League and Primeira Liga, which paved the way for his next career move.

Manchester City Move
Nico signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City on February 3, 2025, in the closing hours of the winter transfer window, for an estimated £50 million. His career took a significant leap forward when he joined one of the most prosperous football teams in the world, led by Pep Guardiola.

On February 8, 2025, he made his Manchester City debut in a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Leyton Orient. However, an injury ended his debut after just 22 minutes. Nico has grown to be a vital member of City's squad rotation after his recovery. He scored the team's first goal in a Champions League encounter against Real Madrid on February 19 and his first Premier League goal in a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on May 20. On November 9, 2025, he scored his second Premier League goal in a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at home.

Nico González salary in 2026

Nico González is presently making around £75,000 a week at Manchester City in the 2025–26 season, according to several pay tracking sites. Before bonuses, this equates to an annual salary of about £3.9 million. Even if his weekly salary in Porto was reportedly around €22,000, this is still a substantial boost when compared to Manchester City's top earners, such as Erling Haaland, who makes up to £500,000.

He has security and time to grow at the Etihad Stadium thanks to his current deal, which expires on June 30, 2029. Nico's pay is not at the height of his earning potential, but rather represents his potential as a young player still making his mark at the top level. His next contract extension may result in a significant pay raise if he keeps improving and establishes himself as a regular starter for City.

Nico González Net Worth in 2026

ICON POLLS projects Nico González's net worth in 2026 to be between $20 million and $25 million based on our investigation and analysis. This sum includes sponsorship deals, performance incentives, and his total income from professional contracts at Barcelona, Valencia, Porto, and now Manchester City.

His recent move to Manchester City has provided the most of this wealth. Despite being paid to Porto, his £50 million transfer fee shows his market value and comes with a lucrative deal. Nico's entire income is further enhanced by endorsement agreements he has with well-known sports companies, such as a boot sponsorship with Nike.

Notably, Barcelona profited monetarily from Nico's move to Manchester City by keeping a portion of any future transfer fees when they transferred him to Porto. Nico's net worth is expected to increase dramatically in the upcoming years as a young player whose career is still on the rise, particularly if he becomes a vital member of one of the wealthiest football teams in the world.

Transfer Value in 2026

Nico González is valued by Transfermarkt at about €45 million as of January 2026. For players who are still getting used to a new league and team, this is a drop from the £50 million (about €60 million) Manchester City paid for him less than a year ago.

Nico is 24 years old and about to reach his prime working years. His potential for development, his technical skills, his physical characteristics, and his past results are all taken into account when determining his current valuation. He maintains a high transfer value because he plays for Manchester City, regularly participates in the Champions League, and has international experience with Spain's youth teams.

The length of his contract (until 2029) and Manchester City's investment in him make it unlikely that the team will look to move him anytime soon. But in the upcoming years, Nico's transfer worth may easily surpass €60–70 million if he keeps improving and starts frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nico González

1. How old is Nico González?
Nico González is twenty-four. He was born in A Coruña, Spain, on January 3, 2002.

2. Nico González plays what position?
Although he can play a variety of midfield positions, Nico González is a defensive midfielder. His primary role is that of a deep-lying playmaker who can provide defensive cover and regulate the game's tempo.

3. What team does Nico González now play for?
In the English Premier League, Nico González presently plays for Manchester City. He left FC Porto to join the team in February 2025.

4. How much did Nico González cost Manchester City?
In the winter transfer window of 2025, Manchester City reportedly paid £50 million to acquire Nico González from FC Porto.

5. How much does Nico González get paid each week?
At Manchester City, Nico González makes about £75,000 a week, or about £3.9 million annually before bonuses.

6. What is the net worth of Nico González?
Nico González's estimated net worth as of 2026 is between $20 million and $25 million, according to ICON POLLS study.

7. What is Nico González's height?
Nico González is roughly 6 feet 2 inches, or 1.88 meters, tall. He has a big physical advantage in midfield conflicts because of his height.

8. Was Nico González a Barcelona player?
Indeed, Nico González joined Barcelona's first team in August 2021 after graduating from the La Masia program. He was a member of the team until 2022, when he was loaned to Valencia. In 2023, he moved permanently to FC Porto.

9. Does Nico González have any family ties to other football players?
Indeed, Fran González, a former professional football player and icon of Deportivo La Coruña, is the father of Nico González. José Ramón, who also played for Deportivo La Coruña, is his nephew.

10. Has Nico González represented Spain on the field?
Nico González has played for Spain on the U17, U19, and U21 teams, among other youth international competitions. Although he has not yet made his senior Spain international debut, many anticipate a call-up soon.

11. What is Nico González's jersey number?
Nico González wears the number 14 jersey for Manchester City.

12. What is the contract expiration date for Nico González?
Nico González has a long-term contract with Manchester City, which expires on June 30, 2029.

13. Has Nico González received any awards?
Indeed, Nico González won the Portuguese Cup, or Taça de Portugal, while he was a member of FC Porto. Along with Manchester City, he is vying for important awards like the Champions League, FA Cup, and Premier League.

14. As a footballer, what are Nico González's strong points?
Nico González is renowned for his exceptional passing skills, tactical awareness, physical presence, and poise when handling the ball. He has good defensive skills and is excellent at regulating the pace of games from deep spots. He can make accurate long-range passes thanks to his vision, and he can maneuver through confined places with to his technical abilities.

15. Who is the agency for Nico González?
One of the most influential agents in world football, Jorge Mendes, formed Gestifute, the agency that represents Nico González.

16. What is Nico González's Manchester City goal total?
Three goals have been scored by Nico González for Manchester City as of January 2026: his first came against Real Madrid in the Champions League on February 19, 2025; his second came against Liverpool on November 9, 2025; and his first came against Bournemouth on May 20, 2025.

17. What kind of style does Nico González play?
Nico González is a deep-lying playmaker who excels in both technique and defense. He offers strong defensive cover, has great vision for both long and short passes, and is at ease receiving the ball under duress. Nico is more muscular because of his height advantage, yet many have likened his style to that of former Barcelona and Spain legend Sergio Busquets.

18. Is there any endorsement contract with Nico González?
Indeed, Nico González has a sponsorship agreement with Nike that allows them to use him in their advertising campaigns and give him football boots. He will probably draw more sponsorship chances as his popularity keeps rising.

19. How much is Nico González worth right now?
As of January 2026, Transfermarkt estimates Nico González's market value to be over €45 million.

20. Does Nico González have a social media account?
Yes, Nico González is active on social media, but he doesn't share much about his personal life. His accounts are mostly used to post updates regarding his training and football career.

21. Nico González was born where?
In the northwest Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, the city of A Coruña is where Nico González was born. His father, Fran González, rose to prominence with Deportivo La Coruña in this same city.

22. Which foot does Nico González prefer?
Although Nico González is a right-footed player, he can also use both feet when needed, like many contemporary midfielders.

23. Is Nico González a Champions League player?
Indeed, Nico González has represented Manchester City and FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League. In February 2025, he scored his first goal for Manchester City in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

24. What was Barcelona's buyout clause for Nico González?
A noteworthy €500 million buyout clause was inserted in Nico González's contract renewal with Barcelona in May 2021, indicating the club's belief in his abilities at the time.

Nico González is the epitome of the contemporary defensive midfielder, combining tactical awareness, physical presence, and technical prowess. He has already played for some of the greatest clubs in Europe at the young age of 24, and he is currently making a name for himself at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola's tutelage.

Nico's financial future appears solid due to his competitive pay, long-term contract with one of the wealthiest clubs in the world, and ICON POLLS' estimate of his net worth, which is between $20 million and $25 million. Both on and off the field, his career trajectory indicates that his greatest years are yet ahead of him.

Nico González has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League if he can continue to compete at the top level and adjust to the demands of English football. His background in football, his professional growth in Barcelona's academy, and his current position at Manchester City put him in a prime position to succeed in the years to come.