MLS teenager Christian McFarlane closes in on dream Manchester City transfer

Manchester City has mined another gem from the United States ’ fertile Northeast region, nearing a deal with New York City FC defender Christian McFarlane.

The homegrown product’s impending transfer has been expected for a while, having trained with the team over the league's winter break. The move is set to be completed just a couple of months after the Premier League giants signed 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan from fellow MLS side Philadelphia Union.

McFarlane's move is expected to occur when the young player turns 18 in January due to FIFA regulations on youth players. He is also reported to have rejected interest from Brighton and several German clubs.

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McFarlane’s transfer marks a long-awaited homecoming for the dual-national, born in Basildon, England along the Thames Estuary before moving to New York at the age of 3. Spending much of his childhood in Queens, the prodigious McFarlane rose through the youth ranks at record speed, becoming the third youngest MLS player to sign a first-team contract at 14 years old.

NYCFC was founded by City Football Group in 2015, one of several teams owned by the Manchester City ownership group, with the two clubs enjoying an expectedly symbiotic transfer partnership over the last decade. Frank Lampard was loaned to northern England before the MLS club’s inaugural season and, most recently, Jack Harrison moved to Manchester City before being sold on for a tidy profit in 2021.

McFarlane has made 29 appearances with New York City FC II since signing his professional deal in 2021 and finally made his first-team debut on June 14, replacing midfielder Hannes Wolf in the 74th minute of a 3-2 defeat. The left-sided player has since made three consecutive starts in New York's final three games before the Olympic break.

Should he match Manchester City’s expectations, however, McFarlane faces a complicated decision on who to represent at international level. The England native made his first youth appearance with the Three Lions for a set of U-16 friendlies in 2022 but appeared for the United States in the same age bracket at the International Dream Cup. McFarlane has most recently represented England at U-17 level, appearing 13 times, and is also eligible to play for Jamaica.

Just a couple hours south on I-95, however, City secured the services of another high-profile American youngster in Cavan Sullivan. The Philadelphia-born midfielder joined the Union academy at 10 years old and quickly joined his brother in forging a standout youth career with the local MLS side.

Signing the most expensive homegrown deal in MLS history earlier this year, the 14-year-old became the MLS debutant after replacing Baribo in the Union’s 5-1 romp over New England. Like McFarlane, Sullivan will head to Manchester upon turning 18 years old, and his advanced deal includes noted add-ons and a sell-on percentage for the Union.

"But I also think the collaboration between the Union and the City Group was -- I think that did it for me. I always watch Man City,” Sullivan explained. “They're like every kid's dream team. For [Philadelphia and Man City] to come together and agree on something -- I sat with my family and my agents and we decided that it was the best plan."