Manchester City’s under-21 captain Shea Charles is on the verge to move permanently this summer to Southampton in a deal worth £10 million.
After inspiring the under-21 team to a third consecutive Premier League 2 championship, Charles, 19, made his senior debut for City on the last match day of the Premier League season.
The eight-cap international from Northern Ireland can play in midfield or across the defense. Pep Guardiola praised him for his efforts throughout the season. During which he made the matchday squad three times and made his senior club debut against Brentford.
After four City academy players made the permanent switch to St Mary’s last summer, he will now be the fifth to do so. Charles will initially cost Southampton £10.5 million, with additional payments rising to £15 million.
According to Manchester Evening News, as soon as the transfer is completed, City will have a substantial sell-on clause and a buy-back option on the midfielder.
Charles joins Romeo Lavia, Sam Edozie, Gavin Bazunu, and Juan Larios as Southampton players who joined for a combined total of almost £40 million last summer. Josh McNamara, a teenage goalkeeper from City, also moved to Southampton’s academy this week.
Jason Wilcox, the new director of football at Southampton, will be fully aware of Charles’ talent as he recently left City, where he served as head of the academy.
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Charles would bring City’s academy income this summer to almost £25 million. With goalkeeper James Trafford joining Burnley for an initial £15 million, later increasing to £19 million.
In addition, a sell-on clause in the permanent transfer of Pedro Porro from Sporting to Tottenham has made the Cityzens £10 million richer.
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