Revealed: Manchester City rejected summer loan offer for Divine Mukasa | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City opted to retain the services of Divine Mukasa for the ongoing campaign despite loan proposals for the teenager during the summer.

Mukasa, who joined City from West Ham in 2023, has long been earmarked as one of the brightest young prospects emerging from the club’s Academy. After an eye-catching 2024/25 campaign, during which he registered 16 goals and 15 assists in just 20 Under-18 Premier League matches, the 18-year-old’s progress has attracted widespread attention.

Manchester City, however, appear keen to accelerate his development by embedding him into the first-team environment this season, following on from his senior debut and first start for the club in the 0-2 win over Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night.

The teenager has already had opportunities to train alongside senior stars under Guardiola’s watch, a move reflective of City’s strategy to gradually blend promising youth players into the first-team squad.

Mukasa’s rise has also been helped by technical versatility and maturity, qualities that have positioned him as more than just a youth standout. With Guardiola somewhat short of attacking midfield options during parts of the campaign due to injuries, the club’s decision to keep Mukasa close could prove to be timely.

According to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, League One side Cardiff City – now managed by former Manchester City Academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy – made a loan approach for Divine Mukasa over the summer.

However, it is revealed that officials at the Etihad Stadium would not entertain the idea of such a move and wanted to integrate the 18-year-old with their senior first-team players for the campaign.

Looking ahead, the expectation is that Mukasa could begin to feature more regularly in matchday squads, particularly in domestic cup competitions where Pep Guardiola has historically offered chances to younger talents.

A first-team debut in UEFA Champions or Premier League competition this season is also considered a realistic milestone by many, though the club are expected to remain cautious in managing his minutes at senior level.

The decision to reject Cardiff’s advances also highlights how closely Manchester City guard their brightest prospects, with a clear belief that Divine Mukasa could eventually follow the trajectory of Academy graduates who transitioned into first-team roles across European football.