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Manchester City beat Arsenal to signing of English wonderkid, he will pen contract in January 2025

Billy Meyers

Wed 9 October 2024 11:45, UK

Manchester City have shown a real alertness to market opportunities involving wonderkids lately.

Txiki Begiristain – who is set to leave Manchester City in 2025 – has already negotiated deals for Claudio Echeverri and Cavan Sullivan in his role as Director of Football.

These moves are future proofing an already elite Manchester City side – who currently sit second in the Premier League as Pep Guardiola aims to win five titles in a row.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	7	6	0	1	13	2	11	18
2	Man CityManchester City	7	5	2	0	17	8	9	17
3	ArsenalArsenal	7	5	2	0	15	6	9	17

Key:

Position 1 – 4 : Champions League
Position 5 : UEFA Europa League
Position 18 – 20 : Relegation

Now, TBR Football understand Manchester City are set to confirm the arrival of another top talent – one who Arsenal also wanted to sign.

Manchester City to sign Christian McFarlane in 2025

Sources now inform TBR Football that Manchester City have secured the signing of Christian McFarlane from New York City.

The 17-year-old, who was born in Essex and represents England at U18 level, was also being monitored by Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

However, TBR Football have been told that Manchester City were determined not to allow McFarlane to leave the City Football Group umbrella – which New York City also find themselves under – and have now been successful in their pursuit of the teenage defender.

The New York City No.18 can play on the left as either a full-back or a left sided central defender, similar to Josko Gvardiol.

McFarlane has already agreed to join Manchester City – and will sign his contract with the Citizens when he turns 18 in January 2025.

Arsenal have their own McFarlane in Myles Lewis-Skelly

While TBR Football understand that Arsenal did want to sign McFarlane before Manchester City won the race, Arsenal already have a top prospect who plays in the same position, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 18-year-old is on the cusp of becoming an Arsenal first-team regular.

Mikel Arteta even called Lewis-Skelly “special” in recent weeks, adding that the teenager can not only play left-back, but also in a No.6 role and the No.8 in midfield.

Lewis-Skelly, who made Premier League history against Manchester City in the recent 2-2 draw, may not have welcomed the signing of McFarlane given the fact it would have added competition for his place, so the teenager may selfishly be glad that Manchester City won this transfer battle.