Man City splash £500,000 on 14-year-old wonderkid from Burnley as teenager bids to join Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in graduating from Etihad academy

According to The Sun, Burnley sensation William Stanley-Jones will move to the highly famed Etihad academy after City agreed to pay £500,000 to secure a move for the 14-year-old striker. The Sun also highlighted the youngster's abilities as a source told them, "He’s a big, strong boy but also very skilful and calm."

Stanley-Jones will hope to walk in the footsteps of stars like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and James McAtee, who have all made it big after graduating from the Cityzens' youth system. While Foden, Lewis and Bobb are currently an integral part of Pep Guardiola's first team, Cole Palmer became a Premier League sensation since moving to Chelsea in 2023.

McAtee, on the other hand, enjoyed two successful loan spells at Sheffield United before completing a permanent transfer to Nottingham Forest this summer for a £30 million ($40.5m) transfer fee.

Guardiola's side are off to a terrible start to the 2025-26 campaign as they are currently 13th in the league with three points from their first three fixtures. They would aim to get back to winning ways after the international break when they host rivals Manchester United on September 14.