Lewis points to key impact of City’s Academy | OneFootball

Rico Lewis says the proliferation of exciting young talent within the Manchester City first team squad as well as further afield is proof positive of the impact of the Club’s famed Academy set-up.

Having graduated into Pep Guardiola’s first team set-up back in 2022, Lewis has since gone from strength to strength, and the England international defender has now further committed his long-term future to City in signing a new five-year contract.

Lewis, together with fellow key first team youngsters Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly and James Trafford are all proud products of City’s Academy system.

Meanwhile a host of other talented former Academy graduates are now carving out highly successful careers either elsewhere in the Premier League and Championship as well as abroad.

Reflecting on what it is that makes City’s Academy so successful in helping forge such a strong pathway into senior football, Lewis said he felt there were a combination of factors.

WATCH: Lewis delight after penning new City deal

“I was talking about this with my mates the other day - when you look around the Premier League, the Championship and other leagues around Europe, you see City Academy players all around,” the 20-year-old pointed out.

“Maybe it’s the training we get from being young.

GET YOUR LEWIS #82 SHIRT HERE

“Trying to implement that first team thinking from Under-12s level on, or maybe it’s the environment we’re in as well.

“It’s such a top-level Academy with the best coaching and the best equipment and facilities.

“It could be a number of things, but it’s good to see.”

As well as myriad success stories within our men’s team, City’s Academy is also nurturing a host of exciting young talent via our Women’s Next Gen Under-21 set-up – including Rico’s younger sister Sacha.

The 17-year-old is also a highly rated right back and, for his part, Rico said he was hugely proud both of Sacha’s progress and development and for two members of the Lewis household to be part of the Manchester City set-up.

“It’s amazing. No one would have expected us to both be at the same club, let alone at a similar level like we are now,” Rico added.

“I’m so proud of her and I tell her all the time. She’s new to it, she’s young.

“She’s still getting used to all the stuff that comes with it but she’s really excited and you can tell that with the way she plays.

“I think she’s similar to me, she wants to be more of an attacker.

“When she first came here, she was more of a winger, but I think I can help her where I can but it’s also good to let her figure out her own game and what she needs to do.

“But I always tell her that I’m always there for her to help.”