Man City unearth rising star in Youth Cup final run – and he’s already attracting transfer glances

Manchester City beat Watford 1-0 in the Youth Cup semi-final to book a date with Aston Villa in the final.

In a team as talented as Manchester City’s Under-18s, standing out is not easy.

Oliver Reiß’s side have won 18 of their 20 league games, losing just one, and on Thursday night booked their place in the FA Youth Cup final with a 1-0 victory at Watford.

Matty Warhurst netted what proved to be the winner in just the third minute when set up by Ryan McAidoo. Both players caught the eye, particularly in the first period.

But as the contest wore on, Divine Mukasa began to dictate and influence the contest from his attacking midfield role. He has been touted as a future star and has reported interest from German giants Bayern Munich – managed by City icon Vincent Kompany – and Dutch heavyweights Ajax having impressed for City this term.

Mukasa has firmly established himself as one of the leading lights in City’s Under-18 side and has a staggering 16 goals and 15 assists in 19 league appearances this term.

It’s not just the numbers that catch the eye either, it’s the talent. He caught the eye coming through the ranks at West Ham before moving to City in 2023. Still only 17, he’s flourished this season having signed a professional contract last September and is an England Under-18 international.

He is a creative player who excels in tight spaces and was part of City’s FA Youth Cup winning side a year ago. He could repeat the feat next month after the narrow success at Watford propelled City back into the showpiece. It would complete a personal hat-trick for Mukasa, having won it with the Hammers in 2023.

In truth he was quiet in the opening half at Watford, showing the occasional glimpse of his talent. But he came into the contest more in the second period, beginning to influence play in the pockets and acting as an attacking pivot as he shifted a few yards further forward positionally.

He came close to finding the net with 15 minutes to play when his whipped left-footed free kick was palmed away by Sam Morris. As legs tired, Mukasa came to the fore. He played Christian Dunbar-McDonald in with a perfectly weighted pass after a strong run only for Watford keeper Morris to stand firm, before Mukasa then saw a shot deflected away as the visitors chased a tie-killing second.

A second goal had looked inevitable when Warhurst gave City, who had scored 17 goals in their previous three Youth Cup victories, a dream start with a goal inside the first few minutes, finishing instinctively from inside the penalty area. The striker could have had a first half hat-trick, denied first by a fine Morris save, before he hit the post with a follow up after McAidoo saw a shot kept out.

McAidoo also came close late in the first 45, but the visitors did not have it all their own way at Vicarage Road with the Hornets enjoying spells of pressure and possession without causing too many problems to the City rearguard.

It was a similar story after the break with Warhurst again denied by Morris before the home stopper stuck out a leg to deny Reigan Heskey. The home side’s biggest chance fell to Nickson Okosun who shot into the side netting after good play from Max Smith down the left.

City finished the stronger and Heskey missed a glorious chance to make it two when side-footing wide at the far post after being picked out by sub Luca Fletcher as Mukasa and Co showed their class, composure and confidence to see out the contest.

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