Man City Could Be About to Repeat Jadon Sancho Mistake with Joel Ndala Transfer
Manchester City could be on the brink of repeating a familiar, and costly, mistake as they prepare to let another young star slip through their fingers.
Joel Ndala, a highly-regarded 18-year-old winger from City’s academy, is on the verge of completing a loan move to PSV Eindhoven for the 2024/25 season. The deal, as reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, comes with a conditional obligation for PSV to buy Ndala, potentially costing City millions in the long run.
Despite being considered one of the brightest young talents in European football, Manchester City appears willing to let Ndala leave, a decision that echoes the departure of Jadon Sancho in 2017.
Sancho, who also came through City’s youth ranks, was allowed to join Borussia Dortmund at a time when regular first-team football seemed out of reach at the Etihad.
His subsequent rise in Germany saw him develop into one of Europe’s hottest prospects, eventually earning a £73m transfer to Manchester United.
City’s decision to loan Ndala to PSV, with the possibility of a permanent move for a fee starting at €7m and potentially rising to €10m, carries significant financial implications.
Although the Premier League champions have inserted buy-back and future sale percentage clauses into Ndala’s contract, there is still a real risk they could miss out on a significant windfall if the winger flourishes in the Eredivisie.
Ndala’s move comes with a contract running until 2029, but the inclusion of these clauses suggests City is acutely aware of the potential for the young winger to follow in the footsteps of Sancho, Michael Olise, Romeo Lavia, and Cole Palmer.
Each of these players, once part of City’s setup, has gone on to command substantial transfer fees elsewhere.
The decision to allow Ndala to leave could end up being a double-edged sword for Manchester City.
On one hand, they avoid the immediate risk of his stagnation due to limited first-team opportunities, but on the other, they may once again find themselves ruing the day they let another star slip away.
Man City Could Be About to Repeat Jadon Sancho Mistake with Joel Ndala Transfer