Manchester City Host Academy Open Day with 40+ European Scouts in Attendance

Manchester City have held a special academy open day this week, with over 40 scouts from across Europe attending to explore loan and permanent deals for some of the club’s most promising young talents, according to Real Tolmie’s Hairdoo.

The event, which involved various age groups within the academy, served as a strategic opportunity for City to showcase their talent pool to potential suitors amid efforts to streamline their first-team and youth squads ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Context Behind the Showcase

Manchester City’s strategy under newly-appointed sporting director Hugo Viana has been to trim the squad following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign and capitalize on their successful academy model. The sale of players like Cole Palmer (£40M) and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht (£5M) exemplifies this approach.

Who Was On Show?

While no specific player list was disclosed, City’s notable young names such as Vitor Reis and Maximo Perrone were subject to transfer speculation. Perrone is reportedly close to joining Como for €13 million after a successful loan spell under Cesc Fabregas, while Reis has impressed Pep Guardiola and may remain part of the senior setup.

Senior Squad Reshuffling

City have already offloaded Kyle Walker (to Burnley) and Kevin De Bruyne (to Napoli), while James McAtee is likely to depart in a deal worth £25–30M. Both Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips have also been told to find new clubs.

FAQ

• What is the purpose of an academy open day?
  To invite scouts to observe and potentially negotiate for young talent, either on loan or permanent transfer.
• Why is City doing this?
  To monetise academy products and provide pathways for young players lacking senior minutes.
• What does this mean for City’s future?
  A continued emphasis on self-sustainability through academy excellence.

Conclusion

Manchester City’s academy open day marks a further evolution of their strategy to convert youth development into both footballing and financial success, as the club eyes more calculated exits and increased squad efficiency.