With City chasing a seventh Premier League title in 10 seasons under Guardiola, one might expect a player’s career to go downhill once they leave Etihad Stadium.
That is not necessarily true.
There are numerous examples of players going on to flourish elsewhere after failing to nail down a regular spot under Guardiola.
Palmer, who made 19 Premier League appearances for City, is a prime example.
Since moving to Chelsea for £42.5m in September 2023, the 23-year-old forward has established himself in the England side and helped his club win the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Conference League.
In 2019, Spanish teenager Diaz signed for Real Madrid from City for a fee believed to be around £15m.
He made five Premier League appearances – all as a substitute – before leaving.
Since then the Malaga-born winger has won two La Liga titles, one Champions League – and, earlier this month, helped Morocco reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Spain defender Eric Garcia, who captained City at under-18 level, has won two La Liga titles since moving from Manchester to Barcelona in 2021, when he was 20, after 35 senior appearances.
Meanwhile, striker Delap – who also progressed through City’s Elite Development Squad (EDS) – was sold to Ipswich in a deal worth up £20m in July 2024, before Chelsea signed the player for £30m a year later.
The EDS was established to create a bridge between City’s academy and first team.
Designed to either prepare top-class talent for City’s main squad or to secure huge profit, selling EDS and non-first team players has brought in more than £500m to the club since Guardiola’s arrival.
That is significant because, when clubs sell academy graduates, the entire amount is recorded as ‘pure profit’ in their accounts, helping to meet the top-flight’s strict profit and sustainability rules.
Chelsea’s Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia was 16 when he left Anderlecht for City.
Sancho, currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, was 14 when he moved north from Watford.
Palmer was a childhood Manchester United fan but ended up in City’s academy.
