On this day in 2020, Manchester City were crowned winners of the FA Youth Cup.
The Citizens secured their third success in the prestigious competition, after beating Chelsea 3-2 in the final. Chelsea had won five of the previous six finals, but success for City showed the progress of an academy that was brimming with talent.
Youth Cup-winning sides often produce first-team talent, though the Manchester City side of 2020 have since gone on to thrive. We’ve looked at the starting XI and how they’ve progressed.
#ManCity‘s FA Youth Cup final-winning squad, five years ago today… 🤯
Starting XI: Cieran Slicker, CJ Egan-Riley, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Luke Mbete, Alpha Dionkou, Joe Hodge, Cole Palmer, Tommy Doyle, Liam Delap, James McAtee, Morgan Rogers.
Used subs: Jayden Braaf, Alex… pic.twitter.com/DEgskPwxgZ
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 2, 2025
Where are they now? Manchester City’s 2020 Youth Cup-winning side
Goalkeeper: Cieran Slicker (Current club: Barnet, on loan from Ipswich)
Slicker never made a first-team appearance for the Citizens before joining Ipswich for an undisclosed fee in 2023. He’s made just three senior appearances and is currently on loan at League Two Barnet. However, international recognition has come with a Scotland debut in June 2025.
Right-back: CJ Egan-Riley (Current club: Marseille)
With his path blocked to first-team football, Egan-Rily joined Burnley in 2022. Last season was a breakout campaign, as the defender earned promotion from the Championship and was named in the division’s Team of the Year. After winning the u-21 Euros with England in the summer, he signed for Marseille on a free transfer.
Centre-back: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Current club: Southampton)
One of three players in the starting side to become a full England international. After a series of loans, he joined Southampton in a deal worth £20m in 2024. The defender, who scored on his senior England debut in 2024, is currently rebuilding with the Saints after relegation last season. Harwood-Bellis captained England to u-21 Euros success in 2023.
Centre-back: Luke Mbete (Current club: Manchester City)
One of the few to remain at the Etihad. Mbete spent last season with Northampton Town, his fourth consecutive loan spell.
Left-back: Alpha Dionkou (Current club: Omonia)
Now 24, Dionkou left City shortly after the Youth Cup win to join Granada. Several loans followed before a 2024 move to Cypriot side Omonia.
Midfield: Joe Hodge (Current club: Tondela)
Hodge departed Manchester City for Wolves in 2021, and made 13 senior appearances. After a productive loan spell at Huddersfield Town in 2024/25, he decided to head abroad to sign for newly-promoted Primeira Liga side Tondela, in Portugal.
Midfield: Tommy Doyle (Current club: Birmingham City)
The Youth Cup-winning captain, Doyle departed for Wolves in a £4.3m deal in 2023. The midfielder made 50 top-flight appearances for the club but struggled to nail down an automatic role. Last summer, he signed for ambitious second-tier side Birmingham City on an initial loan deal.
Midfield: Cole Palmer (Current club: Chelsea)
The one that got away. Cole Palmer showed flashes of his talent in a City shirt, including goals in the UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield, but an abundance of talent blocked his route to a regular role. He signed for Chelsea in a £42m deal, with some initially sceptical of the fee.
Palmer has since proven Chelsea’s judgement right, emerging as one of the Premier League’s best talents. His debut season ended with the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards., while he won the Golden Ball after inspiring the West Londoners to Club World Cup success in 2025.
Calm as you like, colder than you think. @ChelseaFC | #FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/Z0ylP9J5oB
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 14, 2025
Right-wing: James McAtee (Current club: Nottingham Forest)
Regarded as arguably the most gifted of the Youth Cup side, James McAtee never broke through with the Blues despite his potential. He scored seven goals in 34 senior games, before being allowed to leave for Nottingham Forest in 2025.
Left-wing: Morgan Rogers (Current club: Aston Villa)
Another regrettable exit. Few raised eyebrows when Morgan Rogers left for Middlesbrough in a £1m deal, having failed to feature for the first team. Just six months later, he joined Aston Villa for £8m and has gone from strength to strength since. The 2024/25 PFA Young Player of the Year has won nine caps for England since his debut in 2024.
📊 Most assists in the Premier League in 2025:
â—‰ 9 – Morgan Rogers
â—‰ 8 – Eberechi Eze
â—‰ 8 – Anthony Elanga
â—‰ 7 – Mo Salah
â—‰ 7 – Martin Odegaard pic.twitter.com/7E3w0vHWAe— WhoScored (@WhoScored) October 27, 2025
Forward: Liam Delap (Current club: Chelsea)
A prolific presence for the development sides, Delap marked his Manchester City debut with a goal in September 2020. However, the presence of players including Sergio Aguero, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland saw Delap sent out on a series of loans, before a permanent move to Ipswich in 2024. He scored 12 league goals in a relegated side to earn a £30m transfer to Chelsea.
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