Aston Villa rising midfielder passes Manchester City medical ahead of transfer completion

Manchester City are closing in on their latest raid on a rival Premier League club’s Academy as they secure the signing of one of Aston Villa’s best young prospects.

It has already been a significant summer for City when it comes to youth recruitment, with the Premier League giants taking full advantage of shifting dynamics at rival clubs to reinforce their own talent pipeline.

Following on from the expected arrival of Tottenham midfielder Dexter Oliver, the Etihad Stadium is now fast becoming the preferred destination for many of England’s top teenage prospects.

That strategy aligns closely with the vision being implemented across the City Football Academy, where technical development, early exposure to elite coaching, and the potential for integration into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad provide an enticing package for young players and their families.

With a track record of helping players progress from youth levels into senior football — either at Manchester City or within the broader City Football Group network — the club continues to build a long-term structure that places equal emphasis on local scouting and national recruitment.

It is within that framework that City now have acted swiftly to identify and move for one of Aston Villa’s most highly regarded young midfielders, who has not only captained his country at under-17 level but is also seen by many as among the brightest English talents born in 2009.

According to the latest information from Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa and England Under-17 international captain Freddie Lawrie has now successfully passed a medical with Manchester City ahead of finalising his switch from Villa Park.

The 16-year-old is the latest exciting prospect to commit his future to the development plans outlined by Manchester City coaches, penning a long term deal at the City Football Academy as part of a busy window for the Premier League giants in youth recruitment.

While Lawrie will not feature in senior football immediately, he will likely become an integral part of Manchester City’s Under-18 setup under Ben Wilkinson during the 2025/26 season.

Given his pedigree, there may even be optimism that he could follow a similar pathway to the likes of Divine Mukasa, who made a major impact in the Under-18 Premier League last season with 16 goals and 15 assists.

There is also the possibility for Lawrie to be integrated sporadically into first-team training sessions throughout his time at the club, particularly if his adaptation mirrors the maturity and leadership he has already shown as England Under-17 captain.

Lawrie’s imminent arrival marks another statement of intent from Manchester City — not only in terms of out-recruiting their domestic rivals but also in shaping the future of English football from within their own system.