2 weeks ago
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Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will head north of the border to spend the next year on loan with Celtic
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is set to join Celtic for the upcoming season after the Scottish club won the race to sign him.
The Manchester City defender is in the final stages of agreeing a loan move to Parkhead after choosing Celtic over a number of Championship clubs for the next stage in his development.
Simpson-Pusey broke through into the first team under Pep Guardiola in October and was thrown in for a start to senior football that few at the City Football Academy have experienced, his full debut coming in the 4-1 Champions League defeat to Sporting. The teenager defender battled well during one of the most difficult periods for the senior side in a decade before injury ended his involvement with them.
When Simpson-Pusey returned, he shone for an Under-21s side that topped the Premier League 2 under Ben Wilkinson and then went on to emerge as winners from the knockout stage, beating Liverpool, Arsenal and United along the way. The centre-back was named as the PL2 Player of the Season, marking the first time that a defender has claimed such a prize.
"As a centre-back at this club this year he's had an unbelievable football experience," coach Wilkinson told the Manchester Evening News in May. "Being thrown into the team at a really difficult moment, performing to a decent level in that game and the players recover fitness and you're out of it and then back playing U21s.
"You go from a Champions League game at Sporting to playing in front of 500. There's a huge change in that so for him to be rewarded with Player of the Season tells you how he's performed in those games. I always think he steps up in the bigger moments.
"He's had a great season and who knows what is next but he probably wants to leave U21 football and the fact he can leave it having lifted the Youth Cup at the end of last year and PL2 trophy this year means he can be really proud of his academy journey."
Simpson-Pusey had been earmarked for a loan before the season had ended after proving to be a cut above at academy level, and Celtic would be an excellent environment for the player to learn. Former Blues Jason Denayer and Patrick Roberts enjoyed their time at Parkhead, while Virgil Van Dijk earned a move to the Premier League from there.
Celtic won the league in Scotland last season and are one tie away from reaching the Champions League group phase, where Simpson-Pusey could come up against his parent club. They must first win through in the play-off round, and enter the draw as a seeded team.
City are expected to sort loans for a number of talented youngsters from their Under-21 side last year as well as emerging talent that have been with the first team.
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