Max Alleyne set to sign new Manchester City contract and leave on loan in next 24 hours | OneFootball

Manchester City have finalised an agreement to send highly-rated central defender Max Alleyne on loan for the 2025/26 season, according to new developments.

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising talents in City’s youth ranks, and while a first-team breakthrough at the Etihad remains unlikely in the immediate future due to fierce competition, the club continues to show strong belief in his long-term potential.

Alleyne’s progress has been closely monitored in recent seasons, with the England youth international standing out for his leadership, composure on the ball, and physical attributes across various youth levels.

He featured prominently in Manchester City’s academy campaigns and has occasionally trained with the first team under Pep Guardiola, benefitting from exposure to elite-level coaching and competition.

Manchester City have made a concerted effort this summer to secure the futures of their top emerging players before arranging strategic loan deals – a pathway the club have employed in recent windows with increasing consistency, striking new contracts before loaning players to clubs where they can play regularly and develop in more physically demanding settings.

Now, according to the information of journalist Fabrizio Romano, Watford and Manchester City have agreed upon a season-long loan deal for central defender, Max Alleyne ahead of the 2025/26 season.

It is further revealed that Alleyne will also sign a new contract at the Etihad Stadium in the next 24 hours before completing his move to the Championship for the forthcoming campaign.

Watford have been long-term admirers of Alleyne, and the opportunity for him to play senior football at a competitive Championship club is seen as the ideal next step in his development, perhaps pushing for a return to the Premier League.

From City’s perspective, the move aligns with a broader strategy seen across the current summer window; a campaign that has already seen multiple young players either depart permanently with clauses attached or head out on loan.

Vitor Reis is expected to follow suit by joining Girona for the forthcoming season, while the likes of James McAtee and Claudio Echeverri also face pivotal decisions around their immediate futures.

Alleyne’s loan at Watford will be closely tracked by Manchester City’s technical staff, and should the defender thrive in the Championship, there may be scope for either a Premier League loan in 2026 or deeper integration into City’s first-team setup.