New York City FC (NYCFC) defender Christian McFarlane has joined English Premier League club Manchester City — becoming the first player in the club’s history to work his way through NYCFC’s entire development pipeline before joining a Premier League team.
McFarlane, 18, joined NYCFC’s academy in 2018 at the age of 11. He represented every age category before eventually making his first-team debut during the 2024 season.
In 2021, at the age of just 14 years and 234 days, McFarlane became the third-youngest player in Major League Soccer history to sign a first-team contract.
His move to Manchester City, a fellow member of the City Football Group, has been long touted, with speculation linking him to the reigning Premier League champions dating back almost a year. Washington Post journalist Steven Goff recently reported that the transfer was a “multimillion-dollar” move.
NYCFC did not disclose the transfer fee but stated that the club will receive a sell-on fee if Manchester City sells McFarlane in the future.
McFarlane, who turned 18 on Saturday, was born in England but grew up in the United States, representing the U.S. at youth level before playing featuring for England in a UEFA Under 17 qualifying game last year.
He is now the fourth NYCFC homegrown player to play for a club in a top European division, following Joe Scally, midfielder James Sands and forward Andres Jasson, who has played in Germany, Scotland, and Denmark, respectively.
McFarlane thanked NYCFC for providing him with “amazing opportunities and invaluable lessons”, stating that it has been an honor to play for the club.
“It’s been a privilege to grow here and be part of such a special organization. I’m also excited about the next chapter with Manchester City. Visiting their facilities and seeing the players up close is a dream come true; it’s something every young player aspires to achieve,” McFarlane said in a statement.
NYCFC Sporting Director David Lee said the club is “incredibly proud” of McFarlane for reaching such a significant milestone in his career.
“He’s a player who has come all the way through our academy system, continued his development with New York City FC II in MLS NEXT Pro, and ultimately earned his place in our first team,” Lee said. “For Christian now to have the opportunity to continue his journey at Manchester City, a club at the pinnacle of world football, is a testament to his hard work, talent, and dedication.”
Lee added that McFarlane showed huge potential at an early age, noting that McFarlane signed his first professional contract before turning 15.
“I can’t wait to follow his career and see how well he’s going to do in Manchester, knowing that he’ll give everything he can to reach the highest level he possibly can in football,” Lee said.
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