Manchester City are nearing a deal to sign England Under-17 international Christian McFarlane from NYCFC, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
No deal is done or signed yet, but with NYCFC and Manchester City both under the City Football Group umbrella, it is expected to be completed.
McFarlane, 17, would not move to England until after he turns 18 next January.
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The left-back is considered one of the top talents from NYCFC’s academy. He is eligible to play for the United States and has represented them at youth level, but has been a regular with England’s Under-17 side over the last year. He scored his first goal for the Under-17s last week in England’s 5-0 win over Hungary in Under-17 European Championship qualifying.
McFarlane is still awaiting his first team debut for NYCFC, which is expected to come this year. He is regarded as the team’s primary backup left-back and has made 27 appearances for NYCFC’s second team since 2022.
He is the latest highly-rated youth player based in America that City are advancing in a deal to sign. The Athletic reported last week the club are nearing a deal to sign 14-year-old attacker Cavan Sullivan, who is currently part of the Philadelphia Union academy.
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