Manchester City’s academy is another win for the champions.
The City academy is a breeding ground for players to learn their craft before embarking on their professional careers with City or elsewhere.
Phil Foden is the golden boy of City’s academy. His resume speaks for itself. An England international with 5 Premier League titles, 4 Carabao Cups, 2 FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League winners medal by age 23. All won having come through the ranks of City’s academy.
Rico Lewis is now following in Foden’s footsteps. He burst onto the scene last season and looks poised for a long career at the club.
Those are two of the more famous examples. City’s academy also allows young players to begin and learn in their careers before moving elsewhere.
Multiple players from the academy made a significant impact in the lower leagues last season.
James McAtee and Tommy Doyle played key roles in Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premier League. Taylor Harwood-Bellis was a key in defense for Burnley as they dominated the Championship to seal promotion.
Callum Doyle shone for Coventry City and won their young player of the year award. James Trafford did the same for Bolton. Trafford’s form for Bolton and the England under-21 squad looks set to result in a transfer to Burnley this summer, according to BBC Sport.
City’s academy is also a valuable source of incoming revenue for the champions transfer kitty each summer. City routinely insert sell-on or buy-back clauses into any deal for their young players.
It is shrewd business from the champions. It keeps the club’s transfer revenue coming in, whilst keeping the club’s net spend relatively low. A valuable tool in the current climate of Financial Fair Play
Manchester City’s academy set-up lays the foundation for City for years to come on and off the field.
