Man City complete out-of-window transfer deal with West Ham United – Fabrizio Romano
Manchester City have completed a deal to sign West Ham United academy product Xavier Parker, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The transfer journalist posted on X [5 September] to reveal that the Hammers’ Under-18 midfielder has joined the Premier League champions as a project player for their academy.
Parker was mooted to join the club throughout the summer [Fabrizio Romano, 18 July] and follows Divin Mubama via the same route, with the striker having snubbed a new contract at the London Stadium to move to the Etihad.
Romano shared: “Manchester City have completed deal to sign Xavier Parker from West Ham for their Academy. Story confirmed as highly rated talent will be new MCFC player for the future.”
West Ham United lose another young talent to Manchester City
West Ham United will be disappointed to lose Parker, a highly-rated player at Rush Green who had featured for the club’s U18 side.
The frustration from the youth coaches in East London will be that it is unlikely Parker will receive much of a pathway at the Etihad compared to how he might fare with his now former club.
The opportunities offered to youngsters with the Irons has been encouraging down the years, and is something David Moyes was regularly given credit for during his tenure.
It remains to be seen how Julen Lopetegui views that particular area, but it is possible Parker and his family had discussed the pathway with the first-team staff prior to making his decision to head north.
Mubama, although considerably more senior than Parker, represents the same temptation to leave the club for the likes of Man City, and we will wait to see how the potentially lucrative move could benefit the duo.
In other West Ham news, Mark Noble gushes over what he has seen from Lewis Orford following his new contract.
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