Manchester City
Man City tying down their 17-year-old prodigy would help Guardiola develop another gem like Phil Foden
Why Man City should offer Taylor Harwood-Bellis a new deal
According to the Metro, Manchester City are set to reward academy graduate Taylor Harwood-Bellis with a new deal in a bid to secure the young defender’s future at the club.
The 17-year-old, who recently made his senior professional bow for the Cityzens in a 3-0 EFL Cup third-round victory over Preston North End last month, is held in high regard as a player with serious potential by the youth coaching staff at the Etihad.
Harwood-Bellis put in a solid shift at the heart of the defence alongside fellow academy graduate Eric Garcia, who had been handed his first-team debut by Pep Guardiola in the same competition last year.
Man City have high hopes of teenage centre-backs Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia and they have already been tipped to establish themselves as first-team mainstays moving forward in the future.
The England U-19 international is understandably one of the lowest earners in the squad at the moment but a new deal is likely to take his earnings up to around £10,000-a-week, figures which speak volumes of the kind of progress that he has made over the past twelve months. (h/t Metro)
Keeping in mind the ongoing crisis at the back, Harwood-Bellis might have sensed a big opportunity in front of him to break into Pep Guardiola’s plans in the Premier League this season but the manager has so far been unwilling to throw the teenager into the line of fire.
With John Stones and Aymeric Laporte both nursing injuries, City’s backline is currently in tatters but Guardiola’s stance clearly indicates that he wants to ease Harwood-Bellis and Garcia into the first-team fold rather than hurrying their development and putting them amongst the big boys all of a sudden.
An exponent of the Stockport Metro Junior League that also produced teammate Phil Foden, Harwood-Bellis joined Man CIty’s youth setup back in 2008 and has caught the eye with his rapid development through various age groups.
The 17-year-old excelled for the U-18s in the U-18 Premier League last season while also making the transition to the U-23 side in the Premier League 2 Division 1. The talented young centre-back has been a regular in the Elite Development squad this term.
Standing at 6ft 2in with a towering frame, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is already a giant in the making and has earned rave reviews for his technical abilities and maturity as a centre-back.
Additionally, the teenage starlet trained with the first-team in the pre-season prior to the start of the ongoing campaign and impressed with his performances in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
To put things into perspective, Man City should make it a priority to secure the long-term future of one of their highly-rated academy prospects, as Taylor Harwood-Bellis clearly has a big future ahead of him. The 17-year-old is a real talent and has already illustrated a level of maturity that belies his tender years.
The Cityzens have put a lot of emphasis on youth development in recent years and offering the 17-year-old fresh terms would definitely be a strong statement of intent, whilst also ensuring that they are in a strong position to shield him from foreign interest.
While the rise of Phil Foden from the youth ranks to the first-team has certainly been a big achievement by the club’s academy, City have let other top prospects like Brahim Diaz, Rabbi Matondo and Jadon Sancho slip out of their hands.
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To that end, a new contract for Harwood-Bellis would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction as far as their long-term plans are concerned and the fans, of course, will love to see another academy graduate following in the footsteps of Foden in the years to come.
Suffice to say, Man City should move quickly to tie the teenager down to fresh and improved terms in a bid to avoid any speculation over the future.
Manchester City
Jess Park Opens Up: Lionesses Star on Joining Man Utd From Man City and Message of Freedom That Has Her Thriving Ahead of League Cup Final
There was less than an hour remaining in the Women’s Super League summer transfer window when the most stunning business of all was completed. Jess Park and Grace Clinton had been stalwarts at Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively, during the previous season, and yet at the eleventh hour, both were sent to opposite sides of the city.
It prompted criticism of United, with many questioning whether they had done enough summer business. That feeling intensified in the first half of the season when the club’s lack of depth played a part in their inability to mount a serious WSL title challenge. But no criticism can be levelled at the club for what they have done with Park.
Given Freedom to Find Spaces
Revitalised by the freedom handed to her by United boss Marc Skinner, who has crafted out a unique role for her on the pitch, the England international has helped this team reach the Champions League quarter finals and Sunday’s League Cup final. “Of course you’re going to be a little bit sceptical. But as soon as I hit the field, I heard the fans straight away, and that’s much appreciated. I’ve loved every minute of it,” Park tells GOAL.
Park plays like she is loving it, too. With six goals and four assists, it is already her best ever WSL season in terms of goal contributions, and there are still six games to play. That is on top of three goals in other competitions, including the crucial equaliser in the League Cup quarter final win over Tottenham.
Position is Just Where You Start
The position Skinner has put Park in has helped to bring that form out of her. At City, she was deployed in a more orthodox central midfield role, but at United, she has most often started on the right and been allowed to float into whatever spaces appear. Asked what the message has been in that role, Park says, “Have freedom, find the ball, find the spaces, find the pockets.”
Manchester City
Manchester City WFC Defender Joins Glasgow City on Loan Until End of Season as 19 Year Old Seeks Regular First Team Football in Scotland
Glasgow City have announced the loan signing of Codie Thomas from Manchester City until the end of the 2025-26 season. The 19 year old defender signed her first professional contract with the Women’s Super League club in December 2024 and now heads to Scotland seeking regular first team minutes.
This is a smart loan move for Thomas, who has made four appearances for Manchester City, including one in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She made her senior debut against SKN St. Pölten during the 2024-25 season and has since featured in both the WSL and Subway League Cup.
Following Khiara Keating’s Pathway
The defender also gained senior experience while on a dual registration deal with AFC Fylde. Khiara Keating completed the same pathway early in her professional career, which suggests Manchester City has a clear development plan for their young prospects. This is exactly the kind of structured approach that helps talented teenagers progress to an elite level.
After signing for Glasgow City, Thomas said, “I’m really excited to be here, go out there, get some minutes, and show everyone what I am about. The game in Scotland is really interesting, and every match is going to be tough. It’s a really good league to come into and to play in.”
Celtic Debut Beckons for Young Defender
Head coach Jane Ross praised the new arrival. “She’s an energetic player who is composed on the ball and works hard out of possession, and has already gained senior experience in England and in the Champions League. As we enter a crucial part of the campaign, Codie’s arrival adds more competition and quality to the squad.”
Glasgow City currently sits top of the Scottish Women’s Premier League standings after 16 games played, five points clear of Celtic in second place. Thomas will be eligible to make her debut against Celtic at Petershill Park on Sunday, February 8th, in what would be a massive baptism of fire.
Also read: Manchester City WFC vs. Chelsea WFC: Predicted Lineups + Match Preview
Manchester City Women host reigning champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in what could prove to be the decisive match in this season’s WSL title race.
The Citizens currently sit nine points clear at the top of the table after 13 matches, with the Blues desperately needing a result to keep their fading hopes alive.
City left it late in last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over London City Lionesses as Khadija Shaw struck an 86th minute winner to maintain their remarkable form. Andree Jeglertz’s side have won 12 of their 13 league matches this season and boast a perfect home record with seven wins from seven at the Etihad.
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT, Sunday, February 2, 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
City Closing In on First Title Since 2016
This match represents a huge opportunity for Manchester City to effectively end Chelsea’s title challenge before February even finishes. The Citizens are the WSL’s highest scorers with 36 goals from 13 matches, including an incredible 21 goals across their seven home encounters.
Jeglertz remains without defender Naomi Layzell and attacker Mary Fowler due to hip and knee injuries respectively. Aoba Fujino could return to the matchday squad after missing the last five matches, while USA international Sam Coffey is likely to get more minutes off the bench.
Blues Facing Uphill Battle
Chelsea’s hopes of claiming a seventh consecutive WSL title are quickly fading after dropping points in five of their 13 league matches. Sonia Bompastor’s side suffered a damaging 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal last weekend, leaving them nervously looking over their shoulder at Manchester United just two points behind in fourth.
The Blues remain without Kadiesha Buchanan, Nathalie Bjorn, Niamh Charles, Catarina Macario and Mayra Ramirez. Keira Walsh is in contention for a starting spot after returning from injury as a substitute against Arsenal.
Predicted Lineups:
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Yamashita; Casparij, Rose, Knaak, Greenwood; Blindkilde, Hasegawa; Kerolin, Miedema, Hemp; Shaw
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Bronze, Girma, Bright; Carpenter, Walsh, Cuthbert, Baltimore; James; Kerr, Thompson
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