Enzo Maresca has promoted three promising young players to the Manchester City first team | OneFootball

The makeup of the Manchester City squad for the 2026-27 season remains a mystery. City have plenty of work to do in the final stages of the transfer market to finish building Enzo Maresca’s squad. Outside of signing players, City do have an elite academy system to rely upon. Enzo Maresca has revealed that three talented young players have earned a call-up to Manchester City’s first team. That is great and exciting news. It also shows that Maresca is likely to trust young players to make an impression and help his team’s cause.

Three impressive young players will remain with Manchester City for the 2026-27 season.

Enzo Maresca has revealed that Ryan McAidoo, Kaden Braithwaite and Floyd Samba will remain with the Manchester City first team for the 2026-27 season. Maresca explained that those three players will help make up his squad and he also explained how many player he wants in his squad plus McAidoo, Samba and Braithwaite. Enzo Maresca told the media: “Kaden [Braithwaite], Floyd Samba and Ryan McAidoo are going to be with us. We need around 20 players plus those three players full of energy. We are happy.”

It is pleasing to see three impressive young players earn their place in Enzo Maresca’s squad.

The Manchester City academy has become a money maker for the Carabao and FA Cup holders. City sign elite young talent with the hope that they can one day make the grade at City like Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly, and Rico Lewis. However, if they don’t they are sold for tremendous profit as City produces players who can play at a high level in England or abroad. While that is great business it is always exciting to see academy players earn their way into the Manchester City first team.

Ryan McAidoo, Floyd Samba, and Kaden Braithwaite have now earned that call-up. That is a special moment for the trip. McAidoo impressed in the second half of Manchester City’s first preseason friendly against Inter Milan. He could he set for minutes this season on the right wing. Floyd Samba is tall midfielder who excels at winning duels. He is also blessed with great technical ability and the ability to play in tight spaces. Samba is an intelligent player who plays with a poise well beyond his age. Kaden Braithwaite is a left-footed defender who is elegant in possession and can play at left-back, centre-back or step into midfield. Braithwaite has stood out in City’s academy system to earn his call-up to Enzo Maresca’s squad.

Final thoughts.

Ryan McAidoo, Floyd Samba and Kaden Braithwaite will all be a part of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the 2026-27 season. All three have earned their promotion and it will fascinating to see how they all fare when they are given an opportunity to play.