2024 review: Under-18s | OneFootball

Consistency and silverware encapsulate what has been another fantastic 12 months for City’s Under-18s.

It’s been a busy year which also included a managerial change. Ben Wilkinson moved up to become the Lead Coach of the Elite Development Squad and in turn we welcomed German coach Oliver Reiss from Hertha Berlin.

From tense battles in the Under-18 Premier League North and Under-18 Premier League Cup to becoming FA Youth Cup champions, there is plenty to be proud of as the curtain falls on 2024.

With eye-catching statistics to impressive individual development, we take a look back at the past 12 months in anticipation of what is expected to be an exciting 2025...

FIGHTERS

Tasked with facing the psychological challenges that come with competitive football, our Under-18s held their heads high and always focused on the task at hand.

2024 began with City fighting to chase down Manchester United who led the league standings with our form in the latter stages of the 2023/24 season seeing us lose just two games.

Included in our impressive results was a 4-1 home triumph over United - but it unfortunately wasn’t enough to overtake the Red Devils.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City U18s 4-1 United

City battled to beat United again in the Under-18 Premier League Cup final but a narrow 2-1 defeat didn’t reflect the positive football on show after a season of hard work.

We’ve carried the same spirit and tenacity into 2024/25 and after an initial slow start, our Under-18s are fighting once again to be the best in the country.

Still in the race for both cup competitions as we head into 2025 and with a nine-game winning run in the league, Reiss’s side look like a force to be reckoned with.

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS

The statistics that summarise 2024 for our Under-18s are extremely impressive.

Despite the summer break which saw several of the 2023/24 cohort progress to the EDS squad and in turn new, young faces enter the fold for 2024/25, City’s consistency has not faltered.

In the past 12 months, across all competitions, City won 30 games out of 38.

112 goals were scored, averaging 2.9 per game and only 50 were conceded.

In his debut season in the Under-18s, striker Matty Warhurst scored a staggering 21 goals in 20 Under-18 Premier League North games, making him our top performer in front of goal.

And he’s carried that form into the new campaign, already scoring five goals and two assists in nine games.

City also won every game in the FA Youth Cup. Six victories, 12 goals scored, two conceded and four clean sheets make for an exciting 2025 as Reiss’s side look to retain the prestigious trophy.

WATCH: Watch: How the FA Youth Cup was won

BIG STAGE

Speaking of silverware, our 4-0 triumph over Leeds United in front of 20,000 fans at the Etihad Stadium in May saw City lift the FA Youth Cup trophy for a fourth time in the Club’s history.

With almost all of the squad playing in the Etihad for the first time, a daunting task awaited.

A tense 45 minutes saw both teams struggle to break the deadlock but Wilkinson’s side enjoyed more of the ball.

City charged out the gates in the second half with Justin Oboavwoduo finding the back of the net on 47 minutes.

Jaden Heskey, Stephen Mfuni and Matty Warhurst would complete the scoring in what was a fantastic match for our young boys in blue.

WATCH: Watch City lift the 2024 FA Youth Cup

SENIOR STEP-UP

As the end of 2024 approached, the year can be considered another huge success for Academy talent mixing with first-team football.

After impressive campaigns in 2023/24, then Under-18s captain Jaden Heskey and Stephen Mfuni travelled to the United States as part of Pep Guardiola’s pre-season tour team.

They’ve since continued to be figures in first-team training sessions throughout 2024/25.

We also saw a competitive senior debut for 16-year-old, and this season’s Under-18s vice-captain, Kaden Braithwaite receive match minutes under Guardiola in City’s Carabao Cup win over Watford.

Not only did he achieve his ambition of making his debut for the Club, as he took to the pitch at the Etihad, he became the third youngest player in our history to make their full professional debut.

It’s one of many fantastic moments our Under-18s have achieved, with more still to come in 2025.