Manchester City Confirm 13 Players Sign Professional Contracts With Two New Extensions Agreed

Manchester City have revealed a host of new contracts and contract extensions for City Football Academy players.

Following in the footsteps of the Manchester City first-team, who were crowned Premier League Champions for the fourth time five years in May, the Sky Blues' academy sides have been having similar success, winning both the Premier League 2 and retaining the U18s Premier League.

The City Football Academy has become a hub of young footballing prodigies, as teenagers seek to emulate the growing success of Phil Foden - who collected his fourth Premier League winners medal last season and was also named the PFA Young Player of the Year for a second successive season.

Pep Guardiola has continued to utilise the Blues' academy prospects, handing first-team debuts to a host of players during City's Carabao Cup clash with Wycombe Wanderers.

James McAtee, CJ Egan-Riley and Cole Palmer also featured in the Premier League during the last campaign, with the latter making his first Premier League start against Everton in November.

Over a dozen teenagers will be hoping to follow suit in the coming years, after City announced that ahead of the 2022/23 season, 13 youngsters will receive first-year professional contracts.

Luca Barrington, Will Dickson, Tomas Galvez, Jadel Katongo, Rico Lewis, George Murray-Jones, Daniel Ogwuru, Nico O'Reilly, Mahamdou Susoho, Kane Taylor and Matthew Whittingham have all signed their first professional contracts.

Teenage duo Max Alleyne and Isaac Smith will also pen maiden pro contracts once they turn 17.

The club have also announced two players have been rewarded with contract extensions.

Rowan McDonald, who has missed the past two seasons due to injury has signed a one-year contract extension at the Academy Stadium.

Most notably however, goalkeeper James Trafford - who had a phenomenal end to the 2021/22 season with Bolton Wanderers - has signed a new long-term deal until 2027.

The 19 year-old, who recently made his England U21s debut, made 22 appearances for the Lancashire side in the second-half of last season.

Trafford has returned to the University of Bolton Stadium for the upcoming campaign, a club where the shot-stopper quickly become key to manager Ian Evatt and a favourite amongst Bolton supporters.

Speaking last month about Trafford’s return to League One Side on loan, Evatt said: “We’re delighted Traff is going to be back with us and we’re grateful to Manchester City for allowing him to return for a second spell.

“He did really well for us last season as part of our defensive unit and quickly became a key part of the group.

“We’re looking forward to working with him again next season.

“He’s another important signing for us, who already knows how we work, and I know one which will be popular with the supporters as well.”