From David Ornstein: Newcastle agree permanent deal to sign Manchester City midfielder

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Newcastle United over a permanent transfer for highly-rated midfield talent Alfie Harrison, according to David Ornstein.

Having first joined Manchester City’s academy project at just nine-years-old, Harrison’s technical ability and passing skillset saw him progress through the club’s age-groups before signing a scholarship in 2022.

After making a commendable 21 appearances for Manchester City’s under-18s squad during the 2022/23 season, scoring six goals and providing four assists in the process, he remained with the age group for the ongoing 2023/24 campaign.

However, despite featuring in first-team training sessions at various stages of the ongoing season, it appears as though the lure of consistent first-team football in the not so distant future has proven decisive in the player’s consideration of his career path.

That is according to the information of The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who reveals that Newcastle United have now agreed a deal with Premier League champions Manchester City to sign highly-rated midfield talent Alfie Harrison for an ‘undisclosed fee’.

It is further detailed that the 18-year-old is now expected to undergo a medical with Newcastle in the coming days, ahead of completing the proposed move on a long-term contract.

Ornstein also reveals that Newcastle’s pursuit of Harrison involved Paul Midgley, who joined the north-east giants from Manchester City in 2022 as ‘head of youth recruitment’, who focussed the club’s proposal on the teenager having a clear path towards first-team action.

Alfie Harrison is understood to have integrated himself well into first-team training sessions at Manchester City, with some of the club’s senior players drawing comparisons to Erling Haaland for their visual resemblance.

Harrison’s record in the under-18 Premier League so far this season has been nothing short of sensational, and underlines the talent that Newcastle United are securing by signing the teenager for the future.

Across eight appearances for Manchester City in the competition, Alfie Harrison has scored a staggering eight goals from his central midfield role, providing a further four assists in the process.

Elsewhere and Manchester City are closing in on a total agreement for the signing of River Plate’s Claudio Echeverri, with the Argentina under-17 starlet expected to remain at his current club on loan until the winter of 2024.