Leeds United youngster Finley Gorman has reportedly agreed terms to join Manchester City with the compensation fee set to be a record-breaking seven-figure sum, according to The Athletic.
The 15-year-old youngster has already made lots of noise out of Thorpe Arch with a viral video circulating of his goals and skills for the youth set-up. The 2008-born winger has played regularly for Leeds’ U18s this season and also represented England at U16 level, receiving his debut for this age group at 14.
Shortly after, the young man broke the record for the youngest player to score a brace in an U18s Premier League match, at 14 years and 326 days. The Yorkshire Evening Post initially reported that there was contact from the Champions League winners over a potential deal for the player.
The Athletic now claims that this initial interest has become an all-but-confirmed deal that is due to break the British transfer record for a player of Gorman’s age, previously held by Fran Merida to Arsenal for £2.2 million and the infamous Jermaine Pennant prior to that.
Due to the player’s age, Leeds are unable to offer a professional deal in order to prevent the player from leaving for the Etihad and the player will remain ineligible until his 17th birthday in September 2025. Therefore the academy starlet looks all but set to join up with Man City’s ever-improving academy set-up, which has produced the likes of Phil Foden, Kieran Tripper and more recently, Cole Palmer.
Writer’s View
Leeds fans and the club will be disappointed that the young lad wasn’t convinced to follow the footsteps of the likes of Archie Gray coming through at Thorpe Arch as the side’s long history of producing first-team players from the academy set-up is a strong one.
Fortunately, the club is set to receive a large wad of cash for Gorman and, if his career follows the path of the record-breakers before him, then Leeds may have done well to cash in early.
