Several of City’s most recent Academy graduates are scheduled to travel to the United States with Pep Guardiola this summer.
City will face Celtic, , Barcelona, and Chelsea as part of their preparations for the 2024/25 campaign.
The squad went to North Carolina on AC Milan Friday afternoon to begin the tour, with more dates planned in New York, Orlando, and Columbus.
As we’ve seen on previous tours, pre-season friendlies give some of our younger players the chance to impress Pep Guardiola in a senior setting.
Below are some of our Elite Development Squad and Under-18s stars to look out for this summer…
JAHMAI SIMPSON-PUSEY
Centre-half Simpson-Pusey was a significant member of our Elite Development Squad during his first season at that level in 2023/24.
The 18-year-old, who won the Under-18 Premier League the previous season, signed scholarship terms in July 2022 and has since progressed rapidly over the next two seasons.
He’s captained City on multiple occasions, including the UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup.
Indeed, Simpson-Pusey guided our youth to victory in the FA Youth Cup final against Leeds United in May 2024, with Ben Wilkinson’s team winning 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Reflecting on the occasion, he stated that it was a memorable moment in his career, but the defender’s rising trend implies that it will not be his final great accomplishment in the future years.
Simpson-Pusey is a dominant presence in the heart of defence, with exceptional physical qualities and eye-catching ball control.
He’s comfortable picking up play in difficult places and has shown the maturity and confidence to spark deep attacks.
JADEL KATONGO
Katongo, like Simpson-Pusey, has had success at both the Under-18 and EDS levels while in City’s Academy.
The 19-year-old made the step up to the U18s under current first team assistant coach Carlos Vicens and was the youngest member of our 2020/21 title-winning team before becoming a more regular presence as we defended the title the following season.
During 2021/22, he also made his way up to EDS level, where he appeared in the final two of our three consecutive Premier League 2 victories.
Katongo has already played under Guardiola, including a post-World Cup friendly against Girona at the Joie Stadium in December 2022, but is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance.
He does however boast plenty of senior experience having enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at Peterborough United across the 2023/24 League One season.
He does however boast plenty of senior experience having enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at Peterborough United across the 2023/24 League One season.
While the Posh missed out on promotion due to a play-off semi-final loss to Oxford United, Katongo helped Darren Ferguson’s side win the EFL Trophy at Wembley Stadium.
He started at right-back in the 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers, a position where his exceptional technical ability has previously thrived.
JOEL NADALA
Ndala, an energetic winger, joined the Club in 2017 and moved up to our Under-18s as a 15-year-old in 2021.
He was the youngest member of our U18 title-winning squad in 2021/22, playing ten games and earning his EDS debut as both teams went on to win domestic crowns.
Ndala continued to excel for our Under-18s the following season, scoring double figures and delivering a remarkable performance against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Youth League, scoring and assisting in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 victory.
In November 2023, the winger was one of the star players at the U17 World Cup, despite England’s early exit.
Indeed, in just four appearances, Ndala scored three goals and provided two assists before the Three Lions were eliminated in the Round of 16.
He’d already made it to our EDS at that stage, and he’d be a regular for Brian Barry-Murphy’s side during the 2023/24 season.
Ndala was another of our young stars who contributed significantly to our FA Youth Cup final victory over Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium in May.
TOM GALVEZ.
While Galvez has yet to play for Guardiola’s side, he is another one of our promising young talent in the United States with senior experience.
The full-back was born in London and is eligible to represent Finland on his mother’s side. He made his international debut for Finland against neighbors Sweden in January 2023.
Galvez went on to earn three complete caps for his adopted country, even being voted Young Player of the Year in 2023, after making his competitive debut in a Euro 2024 qualifier against San Marino in November.
The 19-year-old assisted in the game, which ended in a 2-1 victory over San Marino, showcasing his ability to break into defences from wide.
Galvez joined the Club from Watford in 2021 and quickly became a regular for our Under-18s the following season, under Ben Wilkinson.
A steady transition into our EDS ensued, with the defender becoming a fixture as left-back for Brian Barry-Murphy’s side in 2023/24.
Galvez is every bit the City full-back, intelligent enough on the ball to move into central areas and support the midfield, or bomb on down the flank to stretch the play and get the opposition facing their own goal.
Boasting a sharp turn of pace, excellent vision and dribbling ability, the Finland international provides a real threat at the top end, while also never shirking his defensive responsibilities.
NICO O’REILLY
Attacking midfielder O’Reilly prepares for his first pre-season experience having won our Academy’s Goal of the Season award for 2023/24.
The 19-year-old’s audacious lob from the halfway line against Nottingham Forest exemplifies his eye for the spectacular in a season where he recovered from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Just 12 months before, O’Reilly had grabbed two equally stunning goals for our Under-18s in the space of a week, the first a match-winning, stoppage time scorpion kick against Middlesbrough.
One week later and he added a brace against Manchester United to his showreel, the first a ferocious finish from a tight angle, the second a 40-yard lob in a 3-1 win.
Those moments of brilliance capped off an excellent campaign for the midfielder, who was named Players’ Player of the Year after captaining our Under-18s to a third successive national title.
O’Reilly has already had a brief taste of senior experience having been part of our Abu Dhabi warm weather training camp in December 2022 before an inclusion in the matchday squad for our Premier League win at Brighton in April 2024.
But now, fresh from yet another standout campaign at Academy level, the 19-year-old will be keen to showcase his potent blend of pace, power and technical quality on a senior stage.
STEPHEN MFUNI
Still just 16 years old, Mfuni is the youngest member of the squad travelling to the United States this summer.
But his young age belies the quality he’s shown for City’s Under-18s across the 2023/24 campaign.
A dependable left-footed defender, capable of operating either at centre-half or full-back, Mfuni combines his impressive physical prowess with excellent vision on the ball.
The youngster grabbed a goal on his EDS debut in February 2024 against Manchester United and repeated the trick in the U18 Premier League Cup final two months later, despite City being edged out 2-1 in both fixtures.
And he capped off an excellent individual campaign with another goal, adding our third in that 4-0 FA Youth Cup final triumph over Leeds at the Etihad Stadium.
Could the youngster add another goal to his collection during our pre-season tour of the United States?
JUSTIN OBOAVWODUO
The scorer of our first goal in the 2024 FA Youth Cup final triumph over Leeds, Justin Oboavwoduo is a skilful, dynamic forward.
He broke the deadlock in the 4-0 success after he weaved his way into the box before latching onto his rebounded effort to poke home.
It was the latest highlight in his sparkling Academy career which saw him seamlessly progress through the ranks and into our Elite Development squad.
The FA Youth Cup is clearly a competition he enjoys after he bagged an impressive hat-trick in a victory against Fleetwood the season before as his maturity on the pitch grew.
Clinical in front of goal with fantastic trickery and composure in tight areas, Oboavwoduo is not only deadly inside the box, but can also lead the press expertly.
JADEN HESKEY
Jaden Heskey enjoyed a fantastic 2023/24 campaign in which he was tasked with captaining the Under-18s and in turn earned him a clean sweep of awards at our annual Academy End of Season Awards.
Heskey is an extremely versatile and hard-working player. Capable of playing as a nine, in the heart of midfield or tasked with playing on the wing, the 18-year-old oozes confidence when the ball is at his feet.
The striker was at the centre of our FA Youth Cup triumph and also helped us to the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League.
He was on the scoresheet in the Youth Cup final win over Leeds, bagging the second of the evening at the Etihad Stadium.
The forward even held the distinction of playing alongside his younger brother Reigan in a 3-0 win over Young Boys in November 2023.
His sparkling performances were rewarded with another clean sweep of awards, claiming the U18 Scholar of the Season, Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season prizes.
His inclusion in Pep Guardiola‘s squad represents his first inclusion on a senior pre-season tour and he’ll be looking to continue his strong form last season in the United States.
LAKYLE SAMUEL
Lakyle Samuel first joined our Academy aged eight and had developed into a classy, composed defender who can operate at centre-back or right-back.
After signing his scholarship in July 2022, he helped our Under-18s retain the Under-18 Premier League North and national title in 2022/23.
He was then promoted to the Elite Development Squad ahead of last term and captained our Under-21s on a number of occasions in both the Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League.
This highlighted his leadership and dependability which he will bring to the tour of the United States.
Galvez is every bit the City full-back, intelligent enough on the ball to move into central areas and support the midfield, or bomb on down the flank to stretch the play and get the opposition facing their own goal.
Boasting a sharp turn of pace, excellent vision and dribbling ability, the Finland international provides a real threat at the top end, while also never shirking his defensive responsibilities.
NICO O’REILLY
Attacking midfielder O’Reilly prepares for his first pre-season experience having won our Academy’s Goal of the Season award for 2023/24.
The 19-year-old’s audacious lob from the halfway line against Nottingham Forest exemplifies his eye for the spectacular in a season where he recovered from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Just 12 months before, O’Reilly had grabbed two equally stunning goals for our Under-18s in the space of a week, the first a match-winning, stoppage time scorpion kick against Middlesbrough.
One week later and he added a brace against Manchester United to his showreel, the first a ferocious finish from a tight angle, the second a 40-yard lob in a 3-1 win.
Those moments of brilliance capped off an excellent campaign for the midfielder, who was named Players’ Player of the Year after captaining our Under-18s to a third successive national title.
O’Reilly has already had a brief taste of senior experience having been part of our Abu Dhabi warm weather training camp in December 2022 before an inclusion in the matchday squad for our Premier League win at Brighton in April 2024.
But now, fresh from yet another standout campaign at Academy level, the 19-year-old will be keen to showcase his potent blend of pace, power and technical quality on a senior stage.
STEPHEN MFUNI
Still just 16 years old, Mfuni is the youngest member of the squad travelling to the United States this summer.
But his young age belies the quality he’s shown for City’s Under-18s across the 2023/24 campaign.
A dependable left-footed defender, capable of operating either at centre-half or full-back, Mfuni combines his impressive physical prowess with excellent vision on the ball.
The youngster grabbed a goal on his EDS debut in February 2024 against Manchester United and repeated the trick in the U18 Premier League Cup final two months later, despite City being edged out 2-1 in both fixtures.
And he capped off an excellent individual campaign with another goal, adding our third in that 4-0 FA Youth Cup final triumph over Leeds at the Etihad Stadium.
Could the youngster add another goal to his collection during our pre-season tour of the United States?
JUSTIN OBOAVWODUO
The scorer of our first goal in the 2024 FA Youth Cup final triumph over Leeds, Justin Oboavwoduo is a skilful, dynamic forward.
He broke the deadlock in the 4-0 success after he weaved his way into the box before latching onto his rebounded effort to poke home.
It was the latest highlight in his sparkling Academy career which saw him seamlessly progress through the ranks and into our Elite Development squad.
The FA Youth Cup is clearly a competition he enjoys after he bagged an impressive hat-trick in a victory against Fleetwood the season before as his maturity on the pitch grew.
Clinical in front of goal with fantastic trickery and composure in tight areas, Oboavwoduo is not only deadly inside the box, but can also lead the press expertly.
JADEN HESKEY
Jaden Heskey enjoyed a fantastic 2023/24 campaign in which he was tasked with captaining the Under-18s and in turn earned him a clean sweep of awards at our annual Academy End of Season Awards.
Heskey is an extremely versatile and hard-working player. Capable of playing as a nine, in the heart of midfield or tasked with playing on the wing, the 18-year-old oozes confidence when the ball is at his feet.
The striker was at the centre of our FA Youth Cup triumph and also helped us to the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League.
He was on the scoresheet in the Youth Cup final win over Leeds, bagging the second of the evening at the Etihad Stadium.
The forward even held the distinction of playing alongside his younger brother Reigan in a 3-0 win over Young Boys in November 2023.
His sparkling performances were rewarded with another clean sweep of awards, claiming the U18 Scholar of the Season, Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season prizes.
His inclusion in Pep Guardiola‘s squad represents his first inclusion on a senior pre-season tour and he’ll be looking to continue his strong form last season in the United States.
LAKYLE SAMUEL
Lakyle Samuel first joined our Academy aged eight and had developed into a classy, composed defender who can operate at centre-back or right-back.
After signing his scholarship in July 2022, he helped our Under-18s retain the Under-18 Premier League North and national title in 2022/23.
He was then promoted to the Elite Development Squad ahead of last term and captained our Under-21s on a number of occasions in both the Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League.
This highlighted his leadership and dependability which he will bring to the tour of the United
NICO O’REILLY
Attacking midfielder O’Reilly prepares for his first pre-season experience having won our Academy’s Goal of the Season award for 2023/24.
The 19-year-old’s audacious lob from the halfway line against Nottingham Forest exemplifies his eye for the spectacular in a season where he recovered from a lengthy spell on the sidelines
Just 12 months before, O’Reilly had grabbed two equally stunning goals for our Under-18s in the space of a week, the first a match-winning, stoppage time scorpion kick against Middlesbrough.
One week later and he added a brace against Manchester United to his showreel, the first a ferocious finish from a tight angle, the second a 40-yard lob in a 3-1 win.
Those moments of brilliance capped off an excellent campaign for the midfielder, who was named Players’ Player of the Year after captaining our Under-18s to a third successive national title.
O’Reilly has already had a brief taste of senior experience having been part of our Abu Dhabi warm weather training camp in December 2022 before an inclusion in the matchday squad for our Premier League win at Brighton in April 2024.
But now, fresh from yet another standout campaign at Academy level, the 19-year-old will be keen to showcase his potent blend of pace, power and technical quality on a senior stage.
