Manchester City striker with 61 goals in 97 games poised to leave Etihad Stadium | OneFootball

Matty Warhurst is poised to leave Manchester City this summer, with a long list of clubs within the English Football League eyeing his signature, according to new reports.

The upcoming 2026/27 campaign represents a vital developmental transition point where playing youth-tier football no longer satisfies the teenager’s immediate career progression.

While Erling Haaland’s exploits continue to dominate senior headlines, the path from the academy to the first-team has grown increasingly narrow for central strikers registered to the club.

The recent record-breaking £116 million purchase of Elliot Anderson and the expected integration of versatile forwards under new manager Enzo Maresca mean that traditional out-and-out goalscorers face a logjam at the Etihad Stadium.

Recognising this bottleneck, Warhurst’s representatives have seemingly engaged with decision-makers to map out an exit plan that maximises exposure to first-team football.

Matty Warhurst eyed for Football League transfer

Now, according to MailSport’s Simon Jones, highly-rated Manchester City academy striker Matty Warhurst is poised to leave the club this summer with a record of 61 goals in 97 games to his name in the City Football Academy system.

With the 19-year-old in the final year of his contract at the Etihad, he is now said to be looking to make a breakthrough into senior football, with the likes of Stockport County, Swindon Town, Cambridge United, Northampton Town and Burton Albion all making interest known.

From the side of Manchester City, sporting director Hugo Viana is likely to include a sell-on clause in any negotiations, particularly as they continue to rate Warhurst highly but recognise a difficulty in sourcing a clear path to first-team football at the club.

How Man City could handle negotiations

From an administrative perspective, Hugo Viana is treating the forward’s impending departure as another high-yield transaction designed to protect the club’s long-term financial health.

By executing an affordable up-front compromise fee balanced by a heavy future sell-on percentage, City are utilising a proven blueprint previously applied to past academy departures.

With the first pre-season returns pencilled in for July 20, the club’s hierarchy will look to finalise an agreement in the coming weeks, ensuring a smooth transition for both the player and the EDS roster.