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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Two Man City players sign contract extensions as 13 youngsters sign first professional deals

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has signed a new long-term deal, as the club have confirmed first professional contracts for 13 youngsters.

Trafford, 19, impressed last season on loan at Accrington and Bolton in League One, and has already secured another season at the University of Bolton Stadium for the coming campaign. He is yet to make his debut for City but has been on the bench six times for Pep Guardiola's side, and he has now penned a new four year deal, taking his contract to 2027.

The club have also announced 11 academy players have been handed their first contracts on professional terms, with a further two players to sign when they turn 17 this month.

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The players signed up for the first time are Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Tomas Galvez, Jadel Katongo, Luca Barrington, Will Dickson, George Murray-Jones, Daniel Ogwuru, Mahamadou Susoho, Kane Taylor and Matthew Whittingham.

Lewis and O'Reilly have stepped up to the under-23s towards the end of last season, with the rest of the players making key contributions to the under-18s' U18 Premier League title win last season.

City have also confirmed that Max Alleyne and Isaac Smith will sign their first professional deals when they turn 17 this month.

And defender Rowan McDonald has been given another year on his contract after missing the last two seasons with injury, joining Trafford in getting a contract extension from the Elite Development Squad.

Some of the youngsters given their first deals could be promoted this season to the EDS after a number of departures or expected first-team promotions. Among the departures from the academy have been midfielders Romeo Lavia and Darko Gyabi, who have left City permanently for Southampton and Leeds respectively.

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