Manchester City are set to sign England under-17 international midfielder Divine Mukasa after he left West Ham United, reports Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
A long-term deal has been agreed and it is expected to be formally sealed before Friday.
Man City are looking to build their youth teams for the future and have identified Mukasa as a huge potential after he displayed his talents in the West Ham academy.
EXCL: Manchester City poised to sign talented England U17 midfielder Divine Mukasa from West Ham — here we go, confirmed 🔵✨
Long term deal agreed — to be formally sealed in next 48h.
City keep going for best talents as their Academy remains crucial part of the club’s project. pic.twitter.com/9Y6GYBeh1w
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 20, 2023
The teenage sensation officially confirmed his exit from West Ham in July, following the likes of Harrison Ashby, Sonny Perkins, Aji Alese and Jamal Baptiste out of the club as the Hammers kept losing plenty of young players over the past year.
Baptiste joined Man City earlier in the summer after training with their under-21s following his Hammers exit, and Mukasa is now set to join his former West Ham academy teammate.
The 16-year-old helped the Hammers under-18s clinch the league title with his goal during their 2-0 win over Arsenal in April, and he will now hope to break into the first-team at the Etihad Stadium club going forward.
Goals from Gideon Kodua and Divine Mukasa gave our U18's a title-winning victory over Arsenal 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rBrFDZncB0
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 15, 2023
Mukasa is still far from the finished article but he has what it takes to become a Premier League star, with his exceptional technique something that has surely impressed Man City.
Rangers and Newcastle United were some of the clubs that were keen on the teenager, holding face-to-face talks with him and his agent in the summer and showing him around St James’ Park and the club’s Benton training base, but he has opted to link up with the Premier League champions instead.
Mukasa impressed for the West Ham under-15s and under-16s before earning promotion to the under-18s and under-21s last term, playing key roles as the former won the league and the FA Youth Cup and Man City will hope their decision to sign him pays off in the future.
