Man City poach 'talented' defender from Man Utd to deal another blow to Erik ten Hag

Manchester City have snapped up one of Manchester United's top talents, it has been confirmed.

There hasn't been too much business between the rivals in the first-team, with Carlos Tevez the last player to move at first-team level.

In the youth ranks it's been much more frequent, however and the latest player to go from one side of Manchester to the other is 16-year-old centre-back Harrison Parker.

Fabrizio Romano has been reporting on the deal for quite some time now but on Tuesday afternoon, confirmed the defender's transfer to City and included images of him signing his contract.

🔵✨ Manchester City completed deal to sign talented CB Harrison Parker from Man United.

City have beaten four top clubs to the signing, it has been sealed today. One more for #MCFC ambitious Academy project. pic.twitter.com/SGGbvSfNcs

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 3, 2023

United signed Charlie McNeill from City for £750,000 after he scored over 600 goals in the youth set-up and they recently poached Darren Fletcher's twin sons, Jack and Tyler, in a double deal.

But City have responded by taking one of Parker, one of United's most highly-rated youngsters. Parker, who has also been at the Arsenal academy, featured once for the Red Devils in the U-18 Premier League last season.

It has been reported that United were so desperate to keep him, that they offered him the maximum wage for a youth player.

Parker turned down the offer in favour of moving across the city and will now continue his development at the City Football Academy, where the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis have progressed.

According to Romano, City beat four teams to his signature as in a previous post he wrote: "City have beaten four top clubs to the signing — agreement is close despite Man Utd offering highest youth deal to keep Parker."