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Manchester City youngster Claudio Echeverri has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the 2025/26 season.
14:22, 21 Aug 2025Updated 14:25, 21 Aug 2025
Claudio Echeverri has been handed the No. 9 shirt by Bayer Leverkusen after he completed a season-long loan move to the Bundesliga side.
Leverkusen swooped in to beat Borussia Dortmund to the temporary signature of the Manchester City youngster, and they have shown their faith in the 19-year-old by handing him one of the key shirt numbers available.
Their main striker, Patrik Schick, has worn 14 since joining Bayer Leverkusen. With the No. 9 available, it has been handed to Echeverri, which looks like a statement of intent in their desire to make the most of the teenager this season.
City will hope Echeverri gains experience at a high level this season. The loan deal doesn't include an option to buy, so the plan remains for him to return to the first-team picture at the Etihad next summer.
The Blues signed Echeverri from River Plate for £12.5million in January 2024. He spent another year on loan with his former club before linking up with City in February of this year.
He made a surprise debut as a second-half substitute in the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley, having not made a matchday squad under Pep Guardiola until that day. He then scored an excellent free-kick in the Club World Cup against Al Ain.
He played the first 45 minutes of that game but was taken off at half-time after suffering an ankle injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. He missed City's pre-season friendly win against Palermo and the Premier League opener at Wolves.
But the attacking midfielder returned to training at the weekend, and with space at a premium in Guardiola's squad, a loan move to Leverkusen will allow Echeverri to gain experience in a competitive league played to a high standard.
The Argentine will also get the chance to play in the Champions League after Leverkusen finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga. He knows a strong season will boost his chances of making the Argentina squad for the World Cup and breaking into the team at the Etihad.
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