Motsi makes the switch
Manchester City have won the race for Leicester City teenager Darren Motsi, beating Liverpool to his signature. The 16-year-old attacker turned down the Merseyside club despite their confidence that a deal was close, according to Attacking Football.
Motsi is a left-footed attacker who can play from the right wing or as a number 10. He featured regularly for Leicester's U21s while still 15 and became the youngest player ever to score in back-to-back Premier League 2 fixtures during the 2025-26 campaign. An England youth international with seven caps at U16 level, he was also selected for a tournament in Florida against the United States, Argentina and Mexico.
Academy rebuild
Motsi's arrival follows the signings of Jeremy Monga from Leicester and Mishel Nduka from Arsenal. Leicester's relegation from the top flight has contributed to an exodus of academy talent this summer, with the club having already lost Monga to City and Ben Nelson attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs.
According to the report, City's development plan was the decisive factor rather than any financial advantage. The signing is framed as a direct replacement for David Eze, who has left the City Football Academy to join Manchester United. Karim Cassim has also completed a move to Manchester United from City this summer.
City appear to have planned around those departures, securing replacements of equal or greater standing from Leicester and Arsenal in the same window.
Different profile
Motsi offers a different profile to both Monga and Nduka. He is a wide attacker with a preference for operating on the right and cutting onto his stronger left foot, though he is capable of influencing games centrally as a ten when required.
His immediate environment will be shaped by a development pathway that has already produced the likes of Ryan McAidoo and Phil Foden, and that recently delivered an FA Youth Cup triumph over Manchester United at Wembley in May 2026. Floyd Samba scored the opening goal in that final.