Man City’s Nico O’Reilly named EPL academy graduate of the year
Manchester City’s 21-year-old left-back Nico O’Reilly has been crowned the Premier League’s top academy graduate for the 2025/26 season.
The youngster’s triumph was announced at the Premier League Youth Development Conference and Academy Awards Dinner at Wembley on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
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He has enjoyed a stunning season so far this term for Pep Guardiola’s side, tallying 33 league appearances with five goals and three assists, helping City continue to fight for the 2025/26 Premier League title.
He has played in 12 of City’s 13 games unbeaten since January 2026, and across the campaign, he has contributed to 15 clean sheets.
Standout performer
One of his most standout performances saw him bag a brace to help City beat Newcastle United 2-1 at the Etihad, just six months after the boyhood blue put pen to paper on a new contract.
He was also the match hero of the 2026 Carabao Cup final triumph over Arsenal, capping the evening with a brilliant brace for City’s ninth overall cup triumph.
The outcome capped a memorable night for the player who celebrated his 21st birthday the day before the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, O’Reilly is also in contention for the club’s 2025/26 Player of the Season award.
City has revealed the initial long list, comprising players who have made at least five appearances across all competitions this season, for the first round of voting, with O’Reilly making the cut.
The poll will remain open until Friday, May 15 2026, with the three players who are selected the most to be revealed later on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Manchester United’s JJ Gabriel was also among the other winners of the night.
The Carrington Academy product was named the U18 Premier League Player of the Season, topping a shortlist that included former Arsenal legend Emmanuel Eboué’s Mathis Eboué, Chizaram Ezenwata, Teddie Lamb, Tyler Tingley, and Albert Mills.
The homegrown debutant of the season award was shared between two of the league’s most promising teenage talents in Max Dowman and Reds youngster Rio Ngumoha.
The latter, who recently became the youngest club’s goalscorer in the Premier League, also clinched the scholar of the year award.
The 17-year-old, joined the Red Academy from Chelsea FC and has had a historic breakout season with Arne Slot’s side.
Arsenal’s Max Dowman took home the Premier League Homegrown Debutant of the Season award following a historic first campaign, while Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka bagged the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
