Manchester City’s Youth on Loan: Previewing the 2019/20 Season

The 2018/19 English Premier League season has ended, and Manchester City finished their season with a bang. The Sky Blues completed the unprecedented men’s domestic treble, and for good measure, they added the Community Shield to their trophy cabinet. As a means to celebrate this remarkable season, the men’s senior team will now enjoy their holiday during the summer months.

For most of the team, the summer will come as a welcomed recess. For others, however, the summer will serve as a stressful period as some players will use this time to determine their futures with the club. A few members of City’s senior team have been linked with a move away from the club during this Summer 2019 Transfer Window, but what about City’s youth?

During the 2018/19 season, Manchester City had 28 players on loan to various clubs around the world. Some of the better-known names such as Aleix García, Douglas Luiz and Patrick Roberts were on loan to Spanish club Girona whilst Paolo Fernandes, Luka Ilić and Erik Palmer-Brown were at Dutch club NAC Breda.

Of the aforementioned players, only Patrick Roberts has found a temporary solution. The Englishman signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City, and in the meantime, he will go on a year-long loan to Norwich City. The Canaries were recently promoted to the EPL, and Roberts will use this loan as another opportunity to prove himself to the City board.

Meanwhile, Aleix García and Douglas Luiz face a dilemma. Following the conclusion of the 2018/19 La Liga season, Girona were relegated to the second tier of Spanish football. Should García and Luiz have any hope of earning a place with City’s senior team, playing football in the Spanish Second Division will not cut it, thus they will need to take their talent elsewhere. Given the circumstances, it is predicted they will be sent on loan for yet another season. Alternatively, City may decide to cash in on these two talented players.

As for the trio at NAC Breda, Fernandes, Ilić and Palmer-Brown failed to make a significant impact at the club. To add insult to injury, NAC Breda was relegated to the Dutch Second Division. As a result, it is likely this trio will be sent out on loan for an additional season, albeit to another club.

Midfielders Lukas Nmecha and Mancu García, who found themselves on loan to Preston North End and Toulouse, respectively, could also make their way back to the European continent for another loan spell.

Back in England, City had a contingency of youth on loan to various Championship clubs. One player that came to light during his loan spell was Jack Harrison, who made 44 first team appearances with Leeds United. According to the Manchester Evening News, the Englishman may be “the best placed (loanee) to challenge for a first team spot but faces serious competition.”

Tosin Adarabioyo is another player who may fancy himself with City’s first team. The centre back made 36 appearances with West Bromwich Albion last season and appears to be a solid defender. Given the departure of Vincent Kompany, as well as the rumoured departure of Nicolás Otamendi, it is possible the young Englishman could find a place in City’s first time. He would have to beat out Eliaquim Mangala and Philippe Sandler as City’s third centre back, however, thus limiting his chances.

As for City’s goalkeepers, it is likely Claudio Bravo will see out the final year of his contract. As a result, this could see Arijanet Muric and Daniel Grimshaw be sent out on loan. City will also acquire American Zack Steffen this summer, albeit it is reported he will go on loan to German club Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Therefore, based on what transpired last season, and due to what has been reported by various media outlets in the recent weeks, it appears most of these young players will be sent on loan for at least another season.

Will any of these young players break into the Manchester City men’s first team next season?