Manchester City Teen Centre-Backs Eye First-Team Opportunities

Manchester City’s 19-year-old centre-backs, Juma Bah and Vitor Reis, are impressing on loan this season. Bah, signed from Real Valladolid for £5.2 million, plays regularly at Nice, featuring in European and Ligue 1 matches. Reis, a £29.6 million signing from Palmeiras, has made seven appearances for Girona in Spain. With potential departures of Akanji and Ake, both could compete for a City squad spot next season.

For the Manchester City squad, attention is turning to two promising teenage centre-backs, Juma Bah and Vitor Reis, who could compete for a place in Pep Guardiola’s team next season. Both 19, Bah and Reis joined City in the same transfer window and are gaining valuable first-team experience on loan. Bah, signed from Real Valladolid for £5.2 million, impressed in La Liga last season and has been playing regularly for Nice in Ligue 1 and the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Reis, acquired from Palmeiras for £29.6 million, has featured in four games for City and is currently on loan at Girona, where he has played seven of eight league matches despite missing one due to a red card. With first-choice centre-backs Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol firmly in place and John Stones as backup, the defensive setup could change. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake are likely to depart next season, potentially opening room for one of the teenagers.

Bah benefits from European football exposure, while Reis has City first-team experience and CFG links that offer insight into his progress. Both must continue performing strongly on loan to earn a shot at the Etihad next season, as Guardiola’s defensive roster could undergo significant adjustments.