The England under-21 lineup was littered with Manchester City Academy graduates as they beat Luxembourg 3-nil in their UEFA under-21 European Championship qualifier. England’s starting lineup featured six players who have come through the ranks as the treble winners. Another two were on the bench and made substitute appearances.
Of the current players still at the champions Rico Lewis started on the right of defence for England. City loanees Liam Delap, Callum Doyle and Taylor Harwood-Bellis all also started for England. Former City players James Trafford and Cole Palmer were also included in England’s starting lineup.
There were also appearances off the bench for Manchester City Academy starlets. James McAtee and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens featured in the second half of England’s comfortable win. McAtee is currently on loan at Sheffield United for this season. Bynoe-Gittens departed Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund in 2020 in a bid for more first-team opportunities.
England’s lineup being littered with Manchester City Academy graduates speaks volumes of the success of the City youth set-up. The European champions academy is producing players now not only for Manchester City’s first team, but also for young players to embark on their careers before taking the next steps with moves to other clubs. The platform provided at City is the perfect place for young players to learn as they begin their careers.
Manchester City’s EDS program is now becoming the elite development program in England. City made a handsome profit off the sale of Academy players this summer, which provides the foundation for the club to reinvest in the first team.
England is now benefiting from City’s Academy set-up. So many members of the England under-21 squad being City academy graduates highlight this.
