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Harri Burton

Fri 1 August 2025 21:30, UK

Nico O’Reilly is the subject of a brand-new announcement that has caught the attention of his Man City teammates ahead of the new season.

The 20-year-old’s development with the first team had been limited until a breakthrough performance against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, scoring twice to avoid embarrassment against the Championship strugglers.

He followed that display up with two assists in the next round of the FA Cup, delivering crosses on plates for Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush to seal a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.

Since then, City’s left-back problems have merely seemed but a distant memory, with Josko Gvardiol sometimes being asked to fill the vacant spot throughout the 2024/25 season.

O’Reilly is certainly being rewarded for his outstanding performances at the Etihad Stadium, even featuring during the Club World Cup, but the latest update will be huge news for the youngster.

Taking to Instagram (1 August), the official club account wrote: “Academy graduate, Nico O’Reilly, will wear the number 33 shirt for the 2025/26 season,” with flexed muscle and blue heart emojis.

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Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake both liked the announcement coming out of the Etihad, with their teammate being given his new shirt number ahead of a proper season in Guardiola’s senior set-up.

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Football Insider verdict

Premier League clubs are well aware of Guardiola’s tactic of using technically gifted players at full-back, who can come into midfield, dictating play, and adding to the final third.

Sealing O’Reilly on a new contract after months of talks would certainly be a step in the right direction, having played such a key role last season, but further reinforcements would not go amiss.

The Citizens have not conceded over 40 goals in a single Premier League campaign since 2015/16, or at least they hadn’t until allowing 44 goals to be netted past them last term.

Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media

James Trafford is the latest arrival in Manchester, which throws doubt over Stefan Ortega and Ederson’s future at Man City, but the 22-year-old’s return from Burnley is an emotional one.

It further shows evidence of a passing of the torch, with Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker already moving on, so it has not been a simple summer transfer window when it comes to emotions.

A new centre-back signing would also be welcomed, or even the likes of Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, and there is still a month remaining of the transfer window.

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