Manchester City has produced some of the best young talent in football, but not all have found success in their ranks.
Here’s a look at 8 players who were once part of City’s academy but have made their mark elsewhere, leaving the club to question what might have been.
8. Jadon Sancho
Sancho was a standout in City’s youth system but never made a senior appearance before heading to Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for £7 million. In Germany, Sancho became a sensation with 89 goal involvements in 104 Bundesliga games. Manchester United signed him in 2021 for £100 million, but injuries and a dip in form have affected his trajectory. Currently on loan at Chelsea, Sancho is starting to regain his confidence with 3 assists in 3 games.
7. Jeremie Frimpong
After rising through the ranks with Phil Foden, Jeremie Frimpong moved to Celtic in 2019, where he became a fan favorite. His success continued at Bayer Leverkusen, where he developed into one of the Bundesliga’s top full-backs with over 15 goal contributions in their best season yet. Should City call him back?
6. Kieran Trippier
Kieran Trippier joined City’s academy in 1999 but never broke into the senior team. After stints at Barnsley, Burnley, and Tottenham, he helped Atletico Madrid win La Liga and was instrumental in England’s Euro 2020 run. Now at Newcastle, Trippier continues to be a solid performer and captain.
5. Loris Karius
Karius joined City’s youth team in 2009 but never made a senior appearance. He rose to prominence under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool but is best remembered for his errors in the 2018 Champions League final. After a string of unsuccessful loans and a dip in form, Karius is now a free agent.
4. Adrian Rabiot
Rabiot spent a brief period in City’s academy before moving to PSG. There, he won 16 trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles, before heading to Juventus in 2019. Though he had a slow start, Rabiot found his form under Andrea Pirlo and recently signed with Marseille after leaving Juventus.
3. Romeo Lavia
Lavia, the last Chelsea player on this list, left City for Southampton in 2022, standing out in an otherwise tough season for the Saints. A bidding war between Chelsea and Liverpool followed, with Chelsea signing him for £58 million. Injuries have slowed his progress, but the 19-year-old is on the path to recovery and is expected to become a key player.
2. Michael Olise
Olise spent a year at City’s academy in 2016 before moving to Reading, where his talent caught the eye of Crystal Palace. After two impressive seasons, Olise moved to Bayern Munich this summer. He’s made a fantastic start, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists in just 7 games for the German giants.
1. Brahim Diaz
Diaz made just 50 Premier League minutes for City before Real Madrid signed him for £15 million. After struggling to find playing time, Diaz moved to AC Milan, helping them win the Serie A title in 2022. Now back at Madrid, Diaz remains on the fringes of the team, awaiting a fresh start.
These players show the talent that has passed through City’s academy, but for various reasons, they’ve found success elsewhere. Will Pep Guardiola ever regret letting them go? Time will tell.
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