Manchester City promote third Academy midfielder into Pep Guardiola’s first-team following pre-season tour

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have now promoted a third Academy prospect into their first-team set-up for the ongoing 2024/25 campaign, it has been confirmed.

The latest development follows on from glowing reports from Pep Guardiola during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, leading to the Manchester City tactician promoting two young players into his first-team picture.

Despite having developed further up the field during his time within the City Football Academy, 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly is viewed as a defensive midfield option for Manchester City this season and working closely with Guardiola on that transition.

Two successive loan spells with Sheffield United in the Championship and Premier League have now resulted in a place within Manchester City’s first-team squad for James McAtee too, offering further creativity in attacking midfield.

But additional options have now been selected from the talent conveyor belt within the CFA squads, with the emergence of a third first-team addition to develop their game alongside Pep Guardiola’s array of stars.

As confirmed by the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, Academy midfielder Jacob Wright is expected to stick around Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/25 campaign to continue his development rather than heading away on loan.

The 18-year-old first registered with Manchester City’s Academy system aged eight, progressing on to sign a scholarship with the club in July 2022 and into the Elite Development Squad for the 2023/24 campaign.

Last season first saw Wright emerge as a regular option for Pep Guardiola’s first-team operation, making his senior debut for the club via a second half substitute appearance against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round.

Wright’s inclusion in the first-team squad follows the decision to allow fellow defensive midfield prospect Mahamadou Susoho to leave on loan, before returning from Peterborough United almost immediately due to a serious thigh injury.