Academy talent crosses the divide
City's academy has produced plenty of talent over the years, but not all of it stays at the Etihad. The latest to leave is Karim Cassim, a 17-year-old midfielder who has completed a move to Manchester United.
Cassim's departure had been expected since the summer, and the transfer has now been ratified by the Premier League. He follows fellow City youngster David Eze, who also made the switch to United earlier this year.
The two players have swapped the City Football Academy for Carrington in the space of a few months, continuing a recent trend of youth players moving between the two Manchester clubs.
Cassim made his City Under-18 debut last season and was part of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup. He came off the bench in the 4-1 semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers, but was an unused substitute in the final at the Joie Stadium in May, where City beat United 2-1.
On the international stage, the midfielder has represented England at Under-17 level. In March, he started all three of England's European Under-17 Championship qualifying matches against the Faroe Islands, Israel and Estonia.
This is not the first time City have lost young players to their rivals. In 2023, Jack and Tyler Fletcher, sons of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, made the same move, while Harrison Parker went in the opposite direction that summer.
For City, the challenge remains keeping hold of their brightest prospects. Cassim's exit is a reminder that the path to the first team is never straightforward, and sometimes the allure of a fresh start elsewhere proves too strong.