Which Man City academy graduates are the best from over the years? Learn which of the Citizens’ young prospects have gone on to have the best football careers!
The City Football Academy has been able to produce some exceptional talents over the years, with many going on to become mainstays in top football teams across the Premier League and Europe. Though Man City have decided to keep some in their own ranks and paved a path for them into the first team, others have gone off in search of new opportunities.
But which of City’s academy graduates are the best? Who’s gone on to win the most accolades? Which of them have managed to earn the highest transfer fees?
This blog covers the best players from Man City’s academy, looking at what they’ve achieved, the clubs they now play for, and the transfer values they accumulated.
Who ranks among the best Manchester City academy graduates?
Firstly, let’s go through a few of the best Man City academy graduates, covering both active and retired players. We’ll go over what successes they’ve had in their careers so far and the individual quality they’ve shown in their respective teams.
Active players
Who are the best Man City graduates among current players plying their trade across Europe’s top teams?
Phil Foden
The most prevalent and obvious active Man City graduate in 2026 is none other than Phil Foden, who’s become something of a role model for young footballers from Manchester.
The attacker has won six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, two FA Cups, five Carabao Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and individual awards such as the PFA Player of the Year. Though not integral to winning all these accolades, being a squad player for some, he’s contributed much to the team since his debut in 2017. Now, he has over 200 appearances and around 100 G/A (goals and assists) in the Premier League alone
Combining his numbers and trophy haul with his continued presence at one of the top clubs in the world truly highlights him as one of Man City’s best academy players of all time.
Cole Palmer
A more recent presence in world football, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been able to make waves in the Premier League since his transfer away from Man City in 2023. One of the best English attackers in the league, Palmer has been a revelation for the Blues and the way they play.
Part of his senior career was still played at Man City prior to his move to London, where he managed to win four Premier Leagues, a Champions League, a Carabao Cup, and a UEFA Super Cup. However, he didn’t really play much part in any of these victories apart from the Super Cup where he scored an equaliser in the final before they won on penalties.
Since moving to Chelsea, Palmer has managed to win both the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Both finals saw him win the Player of the Match award, with two assists in the Conference League and two goals and an assist in the Club World Cup.
Considering his importance to Chelsea, the accolades he’s earned, and his career to date, he’s right up there as one of the best Manchester City academy graduates.
Morgan Rogers
A rising star for Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers is one of the hottest English prospects in the world at the minute. With much talk about a potential transfer to one of Europe’s elite teams, it’s clear that the performances he’s putting in have earned him a stellar reputation.
Though he hasn’t won any of the major trophies yet, Rogers’ contributions to both Middlesbrough and Aston Villa must be considered. His eight G/A for Middlesbrough in 26 appearances earned him a move to the Villains, where he’s since exploded onto the scene. His first full season at Villa Park saw him reach 19 G/A in 37 games, with his output being crucial to their Europa League finish.
Currently playing an integral role in Unai Emery’s team, Rogers is indispensable to the team and is a real consideration for the World Cup due to his electric form.
Jeremie Frimpong
Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong has had an impressive career since leaving Manchester City’s academy, becoming a part of some incredibly memorable teams since his departure from the Sky Blues.
First joining Celtic, he managed to win a treble after helping the Scottish giants claim the league and complete a cup double. Following his time here, though, came his most memorable season which was with Bayer Leverkusen. It was with the German outfit that he was able to win the DFB Pokal and finish the Bundesliga season as invincible champions under Xabi Alonso. The following year he then won the German Super Cup before his transfer to Liverpool.
Now playing for the Reds, Frimpong has been able to make a name for himself as being one of the best attacking full-backs in the world.
Brahim Díaz
Moroccan attacker Brahim Díaz has managed to prove a useful rotational option for Real Madrid. Playing for both AC Milan and Los Blancos since his departure from Man City’s academy, Díaz has been able to rack up a fair few trophies in his time away from England.
After signing for Real Madrid, Díaz won La Liga and then was loaned out to AC Milan for three years. While on loan, he managed to win the Scudetto and become a regular in the side. Upon returning to the Spanish giants, he’s won La Liga, the Supercopa, and the Champions League as well.
Though not a guaranteed name on the team sheet, he’s a crucial cog in Madrid’s team and plays an important role within one of Europe’s best sides.
Nico O’Reilly
Another player still at Man City, Nico O’Reilly has become a key player for the team in the 2025/26 season. Though starting out as a midfielder, the youngster has become a top-class left-back in Pep Guardiola’s system and has scored some crucial goals for the team.
Making his Premier League debut in early 2025, he hasn’t been involved for very long but has seized his opportunity to become a mainstay. Rayan Ait-Nouri was signed from Wolves but after sustaining injury, O’Reilly staked his claim to the position and hasn’t looked back.
Both quick and strong in his duels, he stands at 6ft 4in and is able to bully opponents both defensively and offensively. His two goals to win the Carabao Cup against Arsenal are prime examples of his attacking capabilities, with him having a knack for finding space in the box.
O’Reilly, though not playing as large role, has also won the Community Shield twice and the Premier League once.
A vital contributor to Man City’s current season, Nico O’Reilly is looking to be one of their best academy graduates in recent years.
James Trafford
Though spending some time away from the club, James Trafford made his return to Man City at the beginning of the 2025/26 season. He’s managed to establish himself as one of England’s best goalkeepers throughout his time with Burnley and Bolton, earning himself a return to Manchester.
His loan spell at Bolton saw him begin to build his reputation in the sport, helping the team to win the Papa John’s Trophy. Following this, he managed to get a transfer to Burnley and became their starting goalkeeper. Here, he helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League and played one season in the top division.
Following this, he rejoined Man City and has since won the League Cup after playing in the final against Arsenal. Unfortunately for him, Gianluigi Donnarumma came on the market in the same window as he’d already moved to Man City. If it weren’t for the Italian shot-stopper moving to Manchester, no doubt he would’ve been City’s starting keeper going forward.
Jadon Sancho
Though he’s had a mixed experience since leaving Man City’s academy, Jadon Sancho has no doubt been one of the bigger names floating around since his move to Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
During his time in Germany, he was able to win both the DFB Pokal and the German Super Cup. He then departed Dortmund for Manchester rivals Man United in 2021, where he won the Carabao Cup against Newcastle in the final.
A loan to Chelsea then saw him win the Conference League, scoring in the final to put the team 3-1 up. Returning to Man United, he was then loaned out again to Aston Villa, where he now plays regularly.
His time at Dortmund really elevates his status, with his transfer valuation reaching as high as £113m. Though having ups and downs since he left, he’s still been able to reach some incredible heights and, for a time, made himself one of the best players in the world.
Kieran Trippier
Now a seasoned footballer, Kieran Trippier is coming to the back end of his career that’s spanned over more than 15 years.
Though not the most decorated, having only won two trophies in his career, he’s still managed to be highly successful and became one of the best in his position. Playing for Burnley, Tottenham, Atlético Madrid, and Newcastle, he’s represented various top teams since he left. In this time, he won La Liga with Atlético and was part of a historic Carabao Cup victory for Newcastle.
Despite being a right-back, Trippier has been renowned for his crossing and set-piece abilities, setting him apart from other defenders. With these qualities adding an extra string to his bow, he’s been able to have an attacking output that’s made him one of a few unique fullbacks in the world.
Eric Garcia
Though originally part of Barcelona’s academy, Eric Garcia moved to Man City in 2018 aged 17. After spending time here, making senior appearances and becoming their under-18s captain, he made a free transfer back to Barcelona.
Throughout his career, he’s won the Premier League, two La Ligas, three Supercopas, three English League Cups, a Copa del Rey, an FA Cup, and a Community Shield. On the international stage, he’s also won an Olympic gold medal with Spain too.
Though spending one year on loan at Girona in the 2023/24 season, he’s become an established presence in Barcelona’s team since he returned. This makes him one of the best players from Man City’s academy as he’s solidified a position in one of the greatest clubs in the world.
Retired players
Now that we’ve discussed the players who are still playing, let’s now have a look into the best Man City academy graduates from the past. Here are some of the top players to have come from their academy in years gone by:
Daniel Sturridge
A striker known for his iconic celebration and personality, in his prime, Daniel Sturridge was one of the best attackers in the world. His partnership with Luis Suarez at Liverpool made him a lethal opponent for any team, nearly winning a Premier League title with the Reds.
After leaving Man City, Sturridge wasn’t an integral part of Chelsea’s team, but he still won trophies. His time with the Blues saw him add the Premier League title, a Champions League, and two FA Cups to his trophy cabinet. Following his transfer to Liverpool, he really shone but struggled with injuries throughout his time there. Despite his reduced game time towards the back end of his career at Anfield, he still had memorable moments such as his stunner against Chelsea, and the squad role that he played to help Liverpool win the Champions League.
If it weren’t for his injury issues, Sturridge could’ve arguably had an even more impressive career. Even still, he was able to show his instinctive finishing abilities and skill, making himself a feared threat.
Micah Richards
Bursting onto the scene, Micah Richards took no time at all to announce himself once he got his chance in Man City’s first team. The right-back debuted at 17 years old and became the youngest defender to play for England. Over the course of his career at City, Richards managed to win two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a League Cup.
He also impressively scored a dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Aston Villa in the FA Cup in 2006. Quickly, he was even able to become the youngest-ever captain of the club in 2007. Before Man City became the juggernaut that they are in the modern day, Richards was a key part of the team’s ascendancy to the elite club they are now.
Unfortunately for him, his injury-prone nature led to struggles throughout his career that limited factors such as longevity and consistency. Though he was able to make several comebacks, the prime era of his career was heavily disrupted, leading to struggles in form. He did move to Aston Villa, but his injury issues continued here.
Regardless, his legacy at Man City and in the Premier League is a strong one. Richards’ impact at the club and the levels he reached early in his career leave him as one of the best Man City academy graduates.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
A key figure throughout the early 2000s, Shaun Wright-Phillips came through Man City’s academy and debuted in 1998. The winger managed to truly shine in the 2003/04 season and earned himself a high-profile move to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2005.
Throughout his time in London, he managed to win the Premier League and completed a cup double after winning the FA Cup and League Cup. Struggling for form and a consistent place in the starting eleven, he moved back to Man City in 2008. Upon his return, he re-established himself back in the team and won a Premier League title in 2011 before a move away to QPR.
Wright-Phillips has been one of the top Man City academy graduates considering his trophy cabinet at the end of his career. Also looking at how he helped Man City through the early 2000s and again in the early years following the Abu Dhabi takeover, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Man City academy graduates who fetched the largest transfer values
Because of the quality of talents that Man City have produced through their academy, it’s no surprise that they’ve managed to rack up some impressive transfer sums. Below is a list of the estimated fees that they’ve been able to receive for their academy graduates:
1. Cole Palmer – €47m
Sold to Chelsea in 2023, Palmer managed to earn Man City their biggest academy transfer fee of all time. Though maybe a surprising price at the time due to the limited game time he’d had at the time, he’s since justified the price.
2. Shaun Wright-Phillips – €31.5m
The start of the 2005/06 season saw Wright-Phillips move to Chelsea after he’d made his mark at City. As previously mentioned, he went on to win the Premier League and a cup double with the Blues, justifying his price.
3. Oscar Bobb – €31.2m
A more recent transfer, only happening at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, Bobb made the move to Fulham. Though showing glimpses of his potential so far, it’s too early to rate this switch yet.
4. Kelechi Iheanacho – €27.7m
After joining Man City’s academy in 2014, Iheanacho was sold to Leicester three years later. After joining the Foxes, the striker managed to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield, alongside helping with their Championship title win in the 2023/24 season.
5. James McAtee – €25.5m
Another transfer that only happened at the start of the 2025/26 season, McAtee’s move to Nottingham Forest is still too soon to judge. But, with a previous positive loan spell at Sheffield United and promising minutes at Man City, it could be a good move.
6. Taylor Harwood-Bellis – €23m
The start of the 2023/24 season saw the English defender transfer to Southampton, helping the team win the playoffs and get promoted. Ever since, Harwood-Bellis has been a regular in the team, becoming an ever-present figure in the backline.
7. Romeo Lavia – €22.26m
In 2022, Lavia made the move from City’s youth setup to Southampton. Despite facing relegation, the youngster managed to be a standout player in the league, earning a move to Chelsea the following year.
8. Jadon Sancho – €20.59m
Sold straight from Man City’s under-18s, Sancho showed great promise from his time at the academy. His move to Dortmund was a great success, as he became one of the most sought-after players in the world, winning the DFB Pokal with Die Schwarzgelben.
9. Angelino – €18m
Moving to RB Leipzig in the 2021/22 season, Angelino won the DFB Pokal with Die Roten Bullen. After previously being loaned to the club, Leipzig were simply extending his stay at the club after a successful spell.
10. James Trafford – €17.3m
Though he’s back at Man City now, Trafford made the switch to Burnley in 2023 after a successful loan spell at Bolton. His efforts here saw him gain a year of Premier League experience and then he helped the Clarets regain promotion at the first time of asking.
Can Man City produce more academy gems?
With a track record as stellar as theirs, Man City will likely not struggle to create more young stars. They’ve regularly managed to develop academy players into first-team regulars, or alternatively sell them to other clubs for a profit. With the next generation of youngsters like Nico O’Reilly featuring for the club now, it may not be long before the next ones find themselves in the first team too.
To keep an eye on Man City’s fixtures and the biggest upcoming games, view the Premier League blog page with Betway Insider. As always, if you’re interested in backing Man City or any other teams in England’s top flight, have a look at Betway’s Premier League odds page too!
