Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are lighting up the Premier League, while Jeremie Frimpong is thriving in Germany – meet the Man City kids who flew the nest and are now worth £360m

Manchester City’s quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title is in disarray after a dismal run.

To rub salt in City’s wounds, several of the players they helped develop before moving on are beaming away from the turmoil at the Etihad Stadium.

Mail Sport picks a team of stars who left City in search of first-team football and are reaping the rewards.

James Trafford (Burnley)

Never made a senior appearance for City, but he can say he once saved Pep Guardiola’s penalty in training. Was sold to Burnley in 2023 in a deal worth up to £19 million and has shown that he will have a solid career. Recently I got a senior call-up from England.

Sold for: £19 million (2023)

Worth now: £15 million (according to Transfermarkt.co.uk)

Jeremy Frimpong (Leverkusen)

Was sold to Celtic for just £350,000 in 2019 after being told he had no future at the club despite coming through City’s academy. Has had a winding road back to the top but is now, at 24, one of Europe’s most dynamic full-backs after flourishing under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen.

Sold for: £350k (2019)

Now worth: £41.5 million

Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea)

Started at City at the age of six and earned rave reviews from academy coaches, eventually leaving for Fulham in a deal worth up to £2 million with just 12 months left on his contract. He played just eight games for City’s first team before being loaned out.

Sold for: £2 million (2020)

Now worth: £16.6 million

TAylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)

Was loaned out to Southampton before signing a £20 million deal. The Stockport-born centre-back played 505 minutes of action for City’s first team and looks like a player who would help them significantly now.

Sold for: £20 million (2024)

Now worth: £20.7 million

Angelino (Roma)

Arrived at City in 2013 and was initially part of the Under 18 squad. It took three years before he got his chance with the first team. He was sold to PSV Eindhoven in 2018 before City activated their buy-back clause in 2019. But after fifteen appearances he was loaned out and then sold to RB Leipzig.

Sold for: £5 million (2018), bought back for £5.3 million (2019) and resold for £16 million (2021)

Now worth: £6.6 million

Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)

When he joined City’s academy from Anderlecht in 2020, former City defender Vincent Kompany said Lavia ‘was what Pep Guardiola looks for’ in a player. Made two appearances for City before they sold him to Southampton in a deal worth £10 million.

Sold for: £10 million (2022)

Now worth: £33.2 million

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

The one and only superstar who allowed City to escape their grasp. Played in the youth academy but made just three Premier League starts by the time he was sold to Chelsea for £42.5 million on deadline day last year at the age of 21. Now one of the leading lights in England’s top flight.

Sold for: £42.5m (2023)

Now worth: £108 million

Jamie Gittens (Dortmund)

Widely regarded as one of the best players in youth football when City lost him to Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16. He joined from Reading two years earlier but was heavily influenced by the path Jadon Sancho took when he moved to the Bundesliga.

Sold for: £90k (2022)

Now worth: £41.5 million

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

A product of West Brom’s academy, he was snapped up by City at the age of 17 after impressing against them in the FA Youth Cup. He was loaned out several times before City sold him to Middlesbrough for a nominal fee. Pep Guardiola recently admitted that timing stood in the way of Rogers getting a fair chance at City.

Sold for: £1.2 million (2023)

Now worth: £33.2 million

Jadon Sancho (Chelsea)

Came through as one of the gems of their academy but never made a first-team debut before taking his talents to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2017. He pushed for a move away from City and later moved back to Manchester with United in a £73 million contract. Now on loan to Chelsea.

Sold for: £8 million (2017)

Now worth: £25 million

Liam Delap (Ipswich)

The striker had loan spells at Stoke, Preston and Hull before being sold to Ipswich for £20 million last summer. He has scored six goals in the Premier League so far. However, City do have a buyback clause.

Sold for: £20 million (2024)

Now worth: £20.8 million

ESTIMATED VALUE NOW: £362.1 million