Manchester City are poised for another future financial windfall after securing deals for three more academy graduates this month, adding to the remarkable £27 million banked from Oscar Bobb’s sale to Fulham.
While the first team focus has been on the big money arrivals of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, the club’s famed youth setup continues to be a lucrative production line. The latest exits follow a proven model: secure upfront fees, insert hefty sell on clauses, and retain buyback options to maximise future value.
The most notable departure is 21 year old midfielder Mahamadou Susoho, who has joined Turkish Süper Lig side Kocaelispor for an initial £346,000. The deal includes performance related add ons that could double the fee, a significant 40% sell on clause, a buyback option, and matching rights, a textbook City academy agreement designed to pay off down the line.
He is joined by youngsters Seb Naylor and Justin Oboavwoduo, who have also left the CFA this week. While the precise details of their moves are less clear, they follow the same strategic blueprint of generating immediate income while safeguarding the club’s future interest.
These transactions are a drop in the ocean compared to the blockbuster Bobb sale, but they underscore the relentless efficiency of City’s talent operation. Over the past decade, the academy has generated hundreds of millions, funding first team purchases and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
For Susoho, Naylor, and Oboavwoduo, the moves offer a vital pathway to first team football they were unlikely to find at the Etihad. For City, it’s another piece of smart business, planting seeds that could yield a significant harvest in the years to come. The academy machine, it seems, never stops turning.
