Does Manchester City run academy trials?
City Football Academy, Etihad Campus · East Manchester
No open trials, and City is the most explicit club in England about it: its safeguarding page says never pay anyone for a trial, the club covers every cost of a genuine one, and emails asking for a trial get no reply. The route in starts younger than anywhere. A Junior Academy takes children from Under-4 to Under-8, fed by development centres in Manchester, Yorkshire and Blackburn where City coaches report the most promising players back to the Etihad Campus. There is one free door for older boys: the Talented Player Programme for ages 11 to 14, with a public form.
4 ways players actually get in.
Invitation after observation, often via a development centre or the Junior Academy. All trial costs paid by the club.
- 01Scouted at grassroots, then a development centre
Most players are spotted at grassroots games. Promising Under-5 to Under-8 players go to one of City's development centres, two in Manchester, two in Yorkshire, one in Blackburn, before sessions at the Etihad Campus.
Official page ↗ - 02Junior Academy, Under-4 to Under-8
City's pre-academy. Includes City Kickers for the youngest. Players are not registered until Under-9, the first age group the rules allow.
- 03Talented Player Programme, boys 11 to 14
Free sessions following the City methodology, open to boys in the wider community. Submit details through the club's form and City coaches make contact. The one public self-nomination route.
Official page ↗ - 04City Football Schools
Paid programmes at the City Football Academy and elsewhere. The club states that any selection into Junior Academy, City Select or academy teams from these follows FA scouting rules. It is coaching, not a trial.
Official page ↗
- Greater Manchester
- Lancashire, including Blackburn
- West and South Yorkshire
- EPPP limit: 1 hour travel U9 to U11, 90 minutes U12 to U16
- Ask for the scout's identity card. City says every scout carries one, renewed each season, and not all wear club kit.
- If anyone mentions money for a trial, insurance, transport or extra training, it is not City. Email safeatcity@mancity.com to check an approach.
- Ask whether it is a development centre, the Junior Academy, or registration. Only the last is a signing, and only from Under-9.
- Check the travel rule from home to the Etihad Campus. One hour at U9 to U11.
WSL academy, PGA Category 1.
Girls' academies are licensed by the FA, not the Premier League. How the girls' pathway works.
City Women's academy is Category 1 with U16 and U21 squads in the Northern Division, based alongside the boys at the Etihad Campus. The FA's Discover My Talent referral and Greater Manchester ETCs are the normal routes to a look.
Three things parents get sold.
- Manchester City, Scouts and Scouting ↗
- Manchester City, Talented Player Programme ↗
- The Athletic, Plotting a route through Man City's academy, Dec 2022 ↗
- Premier League Youth Development Rules (travel limits, registration) ↗
Last verified 6 September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us and we will re-check within a week.