The 18-year-old defender has joined the reigning Premier League Champions, while NYCFC retain a sell-on percentage
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Christian McFarlane joins Manchester City18-year-old defender provisionally cap-tied to EnglandBecomes second NYCFC player to join Premier League sideGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
Former U.S. youth international defender Christian McFarlane, 18, has officially joined Premier League side Manchester City from New York City FC.
The Homegrown product made 13 first-team appearances with the in 2024, after developing at the MLS NEXT Pro level with NYCFC II. He signed his first professional contract with NYCFC at age 14 in September 2021 and has been with the club since.
Born in the UK, McFarlane represented the United States at the youth national team level but is now provisionally cap-tied to England after featuring in 2024 UEFA European U17 qualifiers with the .
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“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,” McFarlane said. “It's been a privilege to grow here and be part of such a special organization. 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."
With the transfer, McFarlane becomes the fourth NYCFC Homegrown player to feature for a top European division, following in the footsteps of U.S. internationals Joe Scally and James Sands, as well as defender Andres Jasson. He also becomes the second player in club history to move straight to City, following in the footsteps of winger Jack Harrison, who joined the English side from the in 2018.
"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,” added McFarlane . “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.”
WHAT NYCFC SAID
“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,” Sporting Director David Lee said. “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.
“Christian displayed signs of elite potential in our academy at a very early age and signed his first professional contract before he turned 15, which is unusual, but speaks to the trust and commitment we had in each other, and the belief in the vision we presented that our development pathway could help Christian maximize his potential and achieve his dream of playing in Europe,” added Lee.
“The amount of work that goes into producing a player that can perform at our first team level, let alone do so at the age of 17, is enormous and a huge credit goes to all the staff in the academy for all the work they have done to help Christian. “This moment reflects the amount of exceptional talent we have in New York and underscores our responsibility to continue to identify talent and provide the best pathways possible to as many of those young players so they can achieve their maximum potential within our developmental pipeline.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MCFARLANE?
The 18-year-old will join the City system this window, looking to work his way up into the senior team under manager Pep Guardiola. With defender Kyle Walker recently departing the club for a loan move to AC Milan, there is now a roster spot on that part of the pitch he can take, but it remains to be seen if he is being looked at in a senior role.