Stephen Mfuni made his senior debut on Wednesday evening, featuring as a half-time substitute in City’s third round FA Cup clash with Exeter City.

His involvement makes the 17-year-old defender the eighth Academy debutant of 2025/26.  

A versatile, tall, commanding left-footed defender, Mfuni has been at the Club since Under-9s and is now in his third season playing competitive football for City’s Academy.  

In that time, he has featured over 60 times for the Under-18s and Elite Development Squad in the Under-18 Premier League North, Premier League 2, FA Youth Cup, EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League.  

Mfuni has been a key figure in our Academy’s collection of silverware in recent seasons.  

In his first campaign with the Under-18s, the youngster played almost every minute of our FA Youth Cup success, even scoring in our 4-0 win over Leeds United in the final at the Etihad in May 2024.  

In 2024/25, Mfuni was a key cog in Ben Wilkinson’s Under-19s squad, who progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League, before helping City in our Premier League 2 play-off success which saw us lift the prestigious Under-21s trophy.  

Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Stephen on making his senior debut.