The 18-year-old left-back is one of world football’s best prospects after coming through an MLS academy and second-team system
An England left-back from Long Island, New York? It seems unlikely, but it could happen. Born in Basildon and raised in New York since the age of three, new Manchester City signing Christian McFarlane has already made regular appearances for the England youth teams from Under-16s to Under-18s and is very much part of the England youth national team pipeline.
McFarlane developed partially in the youth academy of New York City FC in Major League Soccer, where he attracted interest from English Premier League clubs as well as teams in continental Europe. He chose to stay within the City Football Group, joining Manchester City in the 2025 January transfer window having just turned 18. It’s a move which further attaches him to the England setup and automatically raises his profile.
