Divin Mubama looks set to move on from Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, with the talented young striker not expected to feature in PL2 next season. However, it remains to be seen whether his next step will be a loan move or a permanent switch away from the club.
Mubama joined City last summer after leaving West Ham, where he was a key figure in their 2023 FA Youth Cup-winning team. Since arriving at the Etihad, the 20-year-old has quietly impressed, earning two senior appearances and grabbing a goal in the FA Cup win over Salford City back in January.
Most of his football this season has come at youth level, where he’s been a consistent performer. He ended the campaign on a high, bagging a brace in the U21s’ play-off semi-final win over Manchester United, taking his total to five in the post-season alone.
City EDS boss Ben Wilkinson confirmed Mubama won’t be returning to the youth side next year, hinting that the club believes he’s ready for a bigger challenge.
“We’ve got players in our team we don’t expect to see next year because they’re ready to take that step – and Divin’s probably one of them,” Wilkinson said. “It’s all about guiding them in the right direction now.”
But breaking through as a young striker is rarely easy. Wilkinson pointed to Liam Delap as an example—another City academy product who needed a few loan moves to truly find his feet. After tough spells at Stoke and Preston, Delap’s impressive season at Hull earned him a £20m move to Ipswich, where he’s now emerging as a top talent in the Premier League.
“It’s a tough transition,” Wilkinson added. “In academy football, you dominate the ball and get chances. In the Championship or League One, a 20-year-old striker is suddenly up against seasoned defenders with far fewer opportunities.”
