City are continuing to strengthen their academy pipeline, with highly-rated youngster Heaven Kilwa set to join from Aston Villa this summer.
The 16-year-old winger has turned down a scholarship offer to stay at Villa Park, according to The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, becoming the only player in his age group to decline fresh terms there. Because of his age and homegrown status, City will not pay a transfer fee, with Villa instead due training compensation.
Kilwa has represented England at both Under-15 and Under-16 level and made half a dozen appearances for Villa’s Under-18s last season, scoring twice. He is regarded as one of the most sought-after academy prospects outside the Premier League’s traditional big-six pipelines, with interest from elsewhere in the top flight before City moved to secure him.
The expectation is that Kilwa will initially join City’s Under-18 squad, with a route through to Oliver Reiss’s Elite Development Squad set-up should he continue to impress. Manager Enzo Maresca — who has already made clear his willingness to work with younger players during pre-season — could give him exposure to first-team training further down the line if his progress warrants it.
The move continues a pattern under director of football Hugo Viana, who has prioritised recruiting elite domestic and European academy talent before their value climbs — Kilwa is the latest in a run of similar additions — this summer. His arrival suggests that approach shows no sign of slowing.
