O'Reilly joins Academy graduate international roll call | OneFootball

In making his senior England debut at home to Serbia this evening, Nico O’Reilly has become the latest graduate from Manchester City’s famed Academy to earn a full international cap.

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Since moving from City’s Academy into Pep Guardiola’s senior City set-up at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the 20-year-old midfielder/left-back has gone from strength to strength.

To date, he has made 35 first team appearances, scoring six goals and has earned widespread praise for his talent, technique and humble, hardworking attitude.

Now being capped by the Three Lions has further amplified O’Reilly’s magnificent progress.

And in the process, Nico joins an illustrious list of Academy alumni who have gone on to earn full international honours after having embarked on their careers as part of City’s famed conveyor belt of outstanding young talent.

All told, since City’s Academy was granted FA approval in 1998 following the restructure of youth football in England, more than 50 graduates have made the journey to represent their respective countries.

In winning his first full England cap, O’Reilly has followed in the illustrious footsteps of City colleagues Phil Foden and Rico Lewis who have also been recognised by the Three Lions over the past few seasons having progressed through the various City age ranks.

ONE OF OUR OWN: Academy graduate Phil Foden has also shone on the international stage with England.

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Meanwhile teammate Oscar Bobb, who has also navigated a seamless transition from Academy to City’s first team, is also now shining on the international stage with Norway.

There have been numerous other notable international bows amongst members from the Academy intake in recent years, including EDS defender Tomas Galvez, currently on loan with Dutch club SS Cambuur, who made his Finland debut in 2023.

Alex Robertson -  a contemporary of Galvez’s in our successful Under-21s side prior to joining Cardiff in 2024 – followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps by being capped at senior level by Australia in 2023, becoming the first third-generation international for the Socceroos.

Meanwhile, a host of other hugely talented young players are prospering elsewhere within the English professional ranks - both for club and country.

Cole Palmer (Chelsea); Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) and Taylor Harwood Bellis (Southampton) - who all made big impacts within City’s Academy and were part of our 2020 FA Youth Cup winning side - have each gone on to represent England in recent years.

Elsewhere within the Premier League, the likes of Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier, Jeremie Frimpong of Liverpool and Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia are amongst those to have shone on the international stage with England, the Netherlands and Belgium respectively after kick-starting their fledgling careers within City’s Academy.

LION HEART: Rico Lewis in action for England away to Greece in 2024.

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They are far from alone in carving out successful career paths away from City at both domestic and international level.

The likes of Shea Charles (Southampton and Northern Ireland), Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic and Nigeria) and Aro Muric (Ipswich but currently on loan at Sassuolo and Kosovo) are just some of those who have gone on to make their own respective marks.

Further afield, a host of fine young talent have also progressed in their careers by plying their impressive trade on the continent.

Both Eric Garcia (Barcelona), and Aleix Garcia (Bayer Leverkusen) have subsequently being capped by Spain at senior level after having initially developed within our Academy.

HOME GROWN: Micah Richards was another to have made the journey from City's Academy to the international stage.

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Meanwhile Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid and Morocco) is another to have tasted international football at senior level after honing his craft at the CFA.

There are also a host of famous names now retired, including notable City favourites Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards, to have made their own mark on the international stage.

Now Nico O’Reilly is the latest player to have joined that distinguished list.