Manchester City signed several individuals to their first professional contracts in an effort to strengthen their junior squads for the next year.
City’s academy supremacy has led to four consecutive under-18 Premier League championships as well as three straight seasons in Premier League 2. The Blues won the FA Youth Cup in 2020 and lost in the semifinals the previous year after suffering a heartbreaking defeat against Arsenal in the 120th minute after having played with ten men since the seventh.
City has acted swiftly to lock down some of their younger stars on their first professional contracts as they prepare to defend their league crowns and improve in the numerous cup competitions for the upcoming season.
Seven players have already posted on social media about their historic new contracts as those deals have been verified, expressing their joy at signing professional contracts with City.
Over the weekend, winger Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and goalkeeper Spike Brits of AFC Wimbledon both finalised their professional contracts as well as their transfers from League Two teams.
As Ben Wilkinson’s under-18 team and Brian Barry-Murphy’s under-21 team begin to take shape for the upcoming season, forward Will Dickson and defender Lakyle Samuel are now leading the next batch of youngsters to confirm their contracts.
The striker Dickson spent the majority of last season’s games in the PL2, but due to his age, he was moved down for the Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League. Dickson nonetheless had a successful campaign, scoring 18 goals and dishing out three assists. Another player who divided their playing time between the two age groups was centre defender Samuel, who appeared 38 times overall and scored twice.
Dickson hinted at the duration of his contract by posting a photo of himself signing it and captioning it, “2027.”
Defenders Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Seb Naylor, as well as goalkeeper True Grant, the son of legendary Manchester United goalie Lee Grant, have announced their new contracts. They intend to advance in the under-18s next season.