Championship club Sheffield United are reportedly set to announce the loan signing of Manchester City prodigy James McAtee.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sheffield United have agreed on terms to sign Manchester City’s 19-year-old attacking midfielder James McAtee on a season-long loan deal in the summer transfer window. The Championship club are set to announce the signing of the English prodigy this week.
James McAtee, an attacking midfielder by trade, has attracted heavy interest from all over Europe following his senior debut for Manchester City in the 2021/22 season. The teenage wonderkid rose through the ranks at the Manchester City youth academy before making the jump to the first team.
The England under-20 international made six appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side last term, but it was for the Manchester City under-23 side where he really made his mark. McAtee scored 18 times and assisted seven goals in 23 league appearances for the Manchester City under-23 team last season, prompting Guardiola to hand him a senior debut.
The Premier League champions are keen to see the playmaker continue his development while being aware that offering him regular first-team football would be next to impossible. Therefore, Manchester City have been willing to let him leave on a loan deal but only to an English club amidst heavy interest from Spain.
As many as five La Liga clubs have explored the possibility of signing the 19-year-old on loan this summer. This included the likes of Rayo Vallecano, Valencia CF, Getafe CF and UD Almería, along with Villarreal, who were also keeping tabs on the Manchester City prodify. Leeds United and Rangers were also interested in getting McAtee on board.
However, as it turns out, Manchester City now have full agreement with Championship club Sheffield United over a season-long loan deal for the attacking midfielder. The details of terms have not been revealed by Fabrizio Romano, who claims the move will be made official this week.
Manchester City will hope that McAtee is offered regular first-team football at Sheffield United to continue developing as he is quite highly rated by those at the club.