Manchester City have raided sister club New York City to complete a “dream come true” for new signing Christian McFarlane.
The 18-year-old left-back, born in England, has been with New York City since the age of 11 and heads to the Etihad for an undisclosed fee.
McFarlane only made his senior debut last year but has already represented England’s under-16 and under-17 sides and New York City will receive a percentage of any sale fee should he be sold in the future.
“I’m incredibly honored to represent New York City FC on a global stage. This club has provided me with amazing opportunities and invaluable lessons that I will carry throughout my career, including my time at Manchester City and beyond,” the defender said.
“It’s been a privilege to grow here and be part of such a special organisation. 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. I know this move will be pivotal for my development, and I’m ready to embrace the challenge and make the most of this opportunity.
“I want to give all my thanks to David Lee, Sam Pugsley [NYCFC’s Vice President of Sporting Operations] and everyone at the club for always advocating for me. Their support has meant so much, and I truly appreciate everything they’ve done for me and my career.
“Making a move to Manchester City is a huge step, and I’m grateful to be part of the City Football Group. Having that connection is so important, and it shows young players out there that if you have the right mindset and work hard, opportunities like this are possible. It’s a dream come true, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
New York City Sporting Director David Lee added: “We are incredibly proud to see Christian reach this incredible 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.
“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. 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.”
McFarlane becomes City’s fourth signing of the January transfer window after the club shelled out close to £150million on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis. The deal is another internal transfer between clubs in the City Football Group operation, following Savinho’s move to the Etihad from Troyes in the summer.
