- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that Manchester City are closing in on the addition of a promising teenager playing in the MLS.
During the summer transfer window, Manchester City were one of the quieter sides in the division with City’s solitary signing being Savinho from Girona.
The Brazilian winger moved from City Football Group side Girona and Savinho certainly looks like a promising prospect in the team and one player for the future.
Despite the lack of investment in the first team, City have began the season in perfect style with the Premier League champions winning their first three games of the campaign, including a 3-1 victory against West Ham United.
Manchester City closing in on Christian McFarlane deal
HITC understands that Manchester City have an agreement in place for Christian McFarlane to join them in 2025.
17-year-old McFarlane currently plays for New York City. Born in Essex, he has spent most of life in America and he has emerged as a major footballing talent – coming through NYCFC academy and he has already made his first-team debut.
New York City FC are part of the City Football Group so a deal for the teenage Englishman will seemingly be a smooth operation.
McFarlane has long been on the radar of Man City’s staff and HITC is told that they were always looking to bring him to England and make sure he was not picked up by other teams who were keen.
HITC understands that McFarlane has been watched closely by the likes of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid but it is City who look set to win the race for the Englishman.
Christian McFarlane set to commit to Manchester City
HITC has been told that MacFarlane has committed to City and is due to move back to England next year. MacFarlane is currently with England’s Under-18 squad having also featured for America’s youth set-up.
City Football Group are making sure they don’t miss out on the MLS’ top talent – teenage starlet Cavan Sullivan will also move to Manchester in 2028 when he turns 18.
NYCFC coach Nick Cushing was full of praise for the teenage defender and believes the Englishman has all the attributes to succeed.
“I think he was good in Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando and has shown real potential,” Cushing said as per Transfermarkt. “I thought tonight was his best game. I thought the defensive part of his game was excellent and got into really good offensive positions.”
Explained: Buying from a sister club
Of course, City’s signing of McFarlane represents a signing for the Premier League champions from within the City Football Group.
Speaking to HITC, GRV’s Head Of Football Finance, Adam Williams explained some of the benefits to such a deal, and said: “With the proliferation of the multi-club model, intra-group transfers are something we’re going to be covering a lot more in the medium term.
“City have conducted hundreds of these transfers within City Football Group, so they are the ultimate authorities in terms of how to make these deals benefit the wider network.
“While we aren’t privy to the intricacies of this specific deal, there will likely have been a reduced intermediary fee.
“The structure of the deal in terms of add-ons and installments will also have been engineered so it suits the balance sheets and the respective club’s regulatory environments.
“It’s worth noting that, just like commercial deals, transfer fees can be scrutinised by the Premier League for fair market value.
“In theory, that means these kinds of arrangements can’t be used to artificially inflate the positions of each club.”
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