Manchester City have completed the signing of 17-year-old starlet Emilio Lawrence from Everton.
The highly-rated attacking midfielder has confirmed his move to the Etihad Stadium on Instagram and he is now set link up with the club's Elite Development Squad.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that "many clubs" were keen to sign Lawrence, but the Scotsman has decided to leave Everton and continue his development with the Premier League champions.
"Excited to get started at Man City," Lawrence posted on Instagram. "Thank you to everyone at Everton for everything over the last 10 years."
Lawrence, who has represented Scotland and England at youth level, was a regular for Everton's Under-18s last season and he contributed with seven goals and three assists in 22 appearances.
The youngster stepped up to the Under-21s team towards the end of the 2021-22 campaign, featuring four times for the Toffees in the Premier League 2, including his final appearance in a heavy 7-0 defeat against Man City's Under-23s.
Lawrence is the latest prospect to join City's youth academy from a fellow British-based club, after the likes of Liam Delap and Luke Mbete who moved to the Citizens from Derby County and Brentford respectively.
City's spending in the transfer market has been well-documented for several years, but they have recently seen a number of academy graduates step up to the first team.
Phil Foden is the most notable name to have established himself as a senior star under Pep Guardiola, while Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Josh Wilson-Esbrand have all featured in the first team this season.
Oliver Thomas
