Pep Guardiola brought the winger off the bench against the Scottish Champions at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in North Carolina.
Joining the Club’s Academy as a ten-year-old from Port Vale in 2017, Ndala had progressed to our Under-18s by the 2021/22 season at just 15.
The youngest member of the squad, he helped City claim the U18 National Crown for the second successive season, featuring ten times and grabbing three goals in the process.
Signing his first professional deal with the Club that summer, Ndala became a key figure for Ben Wilkinson’s side in 2022/23, with 25 goal involvements across all competitions as City once again retained the U18 title.
The winger would also make the step up to our Elite Development Squad for the first time that season, impressing under Brian Barry-Murphy when given an opportunity in the UEFA Youth League.
Most notably during that European campaign, in which City reached the knockout stages, Ndala came off the bench to help City claim a dramatic late win over Borussia Dortmund at the Joie Stadium.
With the hosts trailing 2-1 heading towards stoppage time, the youngster was brought down in the box after getting past his marker, allowing Oscar Bobb to level.
It seemed City would have to settle for a point, but Ndala had other ideas, firing home on the rebound after meeting Carlos Borges’ searching cross in behind the Dortmund defence.
The performance exemplified all of the winger’s key attributes – trickery, excellent technical ability, a frightening turn of pace and an eye for goal.
Ndala translated those qualities onto an international front later that season, playing a starring role for England at the Under-17 World Cup in March 2024.
While the Three Lions were knocked out by hosts Uzbekistan in the Round of 16, Ndala’s three goals and two assists in four appearances had been crucial to his nation’s progress up to that point.
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The 2023/24 campaign would end on a high for the 18-year-old though, as he helped City win the FA Youth Cup final against Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium.
He’ll be hoping to build on that success heading into the new campaign.
Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Joel on making his senior debut.
