Manchester City have moved to bolster their youth teams for the coming season by handing out first professional contracts to a number of players.
City's academy dominance has seen them win the under-18 Premier League for four seasons in succession, as well as securing the Premier League 2 for the last three seasons. The Blues won the FA Youth Cup in 2020 and were beaten semi-finalists last season thanks to an agonising 120th-minute defeat at Arsenal having played with ten men since the seventh minute.
Next season, City will look to defend their league titles and improve in the various cup competitions, and have moved quickly to tie down some of their younger stars on their first professional contracts.
As those deals are confirmed, players are taking to social media to express their delight at penning professional contracts at City, with seven players now posting about their landmark new deals.
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Over the weekend, winger Farid Alfa-Ruprecht confirmed his professional contract, while AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper Spike Brits also confirmed that he has joined the club from the League Two side.
Now, striker Will Dickson and defender Lakyle Samuel lead the next group of players confirming their contracts, as Ben Wilkinson's under-18s and Brian Barry-Murphy's under-21s take shape for next season.
Striker Dickson played most of his football last season in the PL2, but dropped down for the Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League due to his age and had a productive season with 18 goals and three assists. Centre-back Samuel was another who split their playing time across the two age groups, playing 38 times in total, scoring twice.
Dickson posted a picture of him signing his contract, with the caption: '2027', hinting at the length of his deal.
Also confirming their new contracts were defenders Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Seb Naylor, plus goalkeeper True Grant - son of former Manchester United stopper Lee Grant - and they will hope to kick on in the under-18s next season.
