Manchester City academy graduate pens emotional farewell letter upon permanent exit | OneFootball

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has bid an emotional farewell to Manchester City after completing a permanent move to FC Köln, describing his time at the club as “an incredible chapter” of his life.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined Köln on a short-term loan in January before the move was made permanent this summer, with the defender having established himself as a reliable presence in the Bundesliga club’s backline across the second half of last season.

Simpson-Pusey came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and made his Premier League debut in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in November 2024, becoming one of the most highly regarded young defenders to emerge from the City Football Academy in recent years.

City will receive an initial €5.5 million from the sale, as reported by Alex James of the Manchester Evening News, with add-ons potentially taking the final total to €7.5 million, and both a buy-back clause and matching rights have been inserted into the deal – ensuring the club retain a degree of control over his long-term future.

Simpson-Pusey: Leaving as a man with lessons I’ll take forever

In an emotional parting message to Manchester City posted on Instagram, Simpson-Pusey wrote: “Came to City as a kid with a dream. It’s been an incredible chapter of my life and I’m grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

“Thank you to the coaches, all the staff, my teammates, and the fans for making it what it has been. Leaving as a man with so many lessons that I’ll take with me forever.”

The warmth of the message reflects a player who has lived every stage of his development inside the City system, from the youth ranks through to the first-team setup under Pep Guardiola and now a permanent step into senior professional football in Germany.

What does the move mean for City and Simpson-Pusey?

The inclusion of a buy-back clause and matching rights ensures City are not simply closing the door on a talent they have invested significant time and resource in developing.

The shrewd structure of the deal gives City director of football Hugo Viana the option to bring Simpson-Pusey back to the Etihad Stadium should his development continue on its current trajectory at Köln.

For the defender himself, the permanent move represents the next step in a journey that began as a child at the City Football Academy as he now looks to establish himself as a top-level centre-back at the highest level of club football abroad.

City’s ability to generate €5.5 million rising to €7.5 million from the sale of an academy graduate while retaining future options through contractual mechanisms is consistent with the wider recruitment and asset management philosophy Viana has brought to the club since his arrival.