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NYCFC’s Christian McFarlane nearing Man City deal
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NYCFC’s Christian McFarlane nearing Man City deal

New York City FC’s Christian McFarlane is close to inking a deal with English Premier League club Manchester City, according to multiple reports on Monday.

The deal comes as no major surprise, as The Athletic reported in March that the Premier League champions and the English-born, New York-raised footballer were close to reaching an agreement.

According to football insider Tom Bogert, the left-back will not make the move abroad until he turns 18 in January 2025. The 17-year-old player has rejected offers from Brighton and several other clubs.

According to insider Fabrizio Romano, there were also offers from German clubs in the Bundesliga.

New York City FC defender Christian McFarlane (18) runs with the ball, chased by Queretaro FC player Alan Medina (11), at Yankee Stadium on July 28, 2024. Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

McFarlane has steadily risen through the NYCFC youth ranks after joining in 2018 and signing a Homegrown contract with NYCFC in 2021.

He made his MLS debut in NYCFC’s 3–2 loss to Columbus Crew at Yankee Stadium on June 14 and started in the club’s final three matches prior to the MLS Leagues Cup break.

McFarlane started Sunday’s Leagues Cup season opener at Yankee Stadium against Liga MX club Querétaro FC, a day after Manchester City took on AC Milan in a friendly in the Bronx.

Man City’s love affair with McFarlane began after he travelled to England last winter to take part in a training camp with the Premier League club.

The potential Manchester City saw in McFarlane was likely the same as the potential NYCFC saw in him when they first signed him in 2021.

New York City FC defender Christian McFarlane (18) holds the ball during the first half against Queretaro FC at Yankee Stadium on July 28, 2024. Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

NYCFC sporting director David Lee told The Post in an interview earlier this month that there is so much more to McFarlane’s game that hasn’t been tapped yet.

“He’s now a more developed 17-year-old with still huge potential to develop further and that’s why we see the interest we have in him from teams across Europe,” Lee said at the time. “They also see a player with fantastic qualities to play at a very high level in his career. It’s up to us and Christian to try and develop those qualities and get him ready so that when those opportunities come, whether in our first team or outside of it, he’s ready to take advantage of them.”

During the conversation, Lee told The Post that NYCFC had “not had any formal offers from anyone inside or outside of our group” for McFarlane, but added that it “wouldn’t surprise me” if they did start receiving offers for him given the way he’s been playing.

McFarlane was born in England and moved to New York City at the age of 3, allowing him to play internationally for England and the United States.

The teenager played regularly for the England national youth teams.

New York City FC defender Christian McFarlane is likely to leave for Man City. Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

It would be the second deal in a short space of time for Manchester City to bring in a young, rising star through an MLS academy system, after the club signed 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan from the Philadelphia Union, who made his MLS debut earlier this month.

Manchester City and NYCFC both have the same owner: City Football Group.