Manchester City agree British record seven-figure fee for Leeds United attacking midfielder

Premier League champions Manchester City are expected to set a new British transfer record in an age group after agreeing a fee for Leeds United’s Finley Gorman.

The currently English top-flight leaders are continuing their pursuit of Europe’s finest young talents, following a continuous streak of scouting missions across the globe to ensure consistent success across all age groups.

Manchester City retain one of the most feared youth academy set-ups in European football, and their successful development of players has been seen at the top-level of the game in recent weeks and months in particular.

Cole Palmer left Manchester City for a fee understood to be in the region of £42 million last summer, joining Chelsea in a move that has significantly aided the England international having risen through the Etihad’s youth system.

Now, Manchester City’s attentions have turned to the latest breakthrough talent in the English football scene, with reports indicating a successful pursuit of Leeds United’s attacking midfield prospect Finley Gorman.

That is according to the information of The Athletic’s Phil Hay and Sam Lee, who report that Leeds’ Gorman is now set to join Manchester City after the two clubs reached an agreement over a seven-figure fee – a British record for a 15-year-old player.

While the report highlights that a deal is not yet completely done, it is explained that the expectation on all sides of the agreement is that Finley Gorman will move to the Etihad Stadium and the esteemed City Football Academy set-up.

Finley Gorman is still on ‘schoolboy terms’ with Leeds United, and as such will not be eligible for a first professional contract until he turns 17-years-old in September 2025, The Athletic highlights.

Gorman made his England international debut at under-16s level earlier in the ongoing season at just 14-years-old, and currently holds the record of being the youngest player to score twice in a Premier League Under-18 fixture, at 14 years and 326 days.

At present, it remains unknown as to where Manchester City intend on placing Gorman within their current youth academy set-up, however the Premier League champions are often bold when developing their rising talents in older age groups.

Joel Ndala – who is currently starring at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with England – often features for Manchester City’s most senior squads in the youth academy, and largely not looking out of place despite age differences.