James McAtee siirtyy Manchester Citystä Nottingham Forestiin 25 miljoonan euron kaupassa – nuoren keskikenttäpelaajan ura uudessa nousussa - Uusimmat Valioliiga-uutiset ja analyysit

Uutiset Joonas Mäkelä 16 elokuun 2025

James McAtee siirtyy Manchester Citystä Nottingham Forestiin 25 miljoonan euron kaupassa – nuoren keskikenttäpelaajan ura uudessa nousussa

It always stings a little when a hometown kid has to pack up and leave. But for James McAtee, the gifted attacking midfielder who grew up in Manchester and came through City’s famed academy, this was a move that felt inevitable. The 22-year-old will now try to make his mark at Nottingham Forest, who confirmed his signing on Saturday night in a deal worth around €25 million.

For Forest, it’s a serious statement of intent. The club has spent the past two Premier League seasons proving they belong in the division, but survival alone won’t do forever. If they want to climb the table, they need more creativity and quality in midfield—and McAtee just might be the answer.

The local prodigy who couldn’t quite break through

McAtee’s story is a familiar one in modern football. A player raised inside the walls of a superclub, rich with talent, but trying to find a spot in a squad already overflowing with world-class stars. Technically brilliant, able to slip a clever pass through the tightest of defenses, McAtee looked every bit like a future City star.

But last season, reality hit: he played just 936 minutes under Pep Guardiola across all competitions. Not because he wasn’t good enough, but because breaking into a midfield featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and a rotating cast of global stars is almost impossible for any young hopeful. For a 22-year-old, minutes on the pitch matter more than sitting on the most glamorous bench in Europe.

The Sheffield United education

What McAtee did get, though, was real-world experience. He spent chunks of his early career on loan at Sheffield United, where he proved he could handle the intensity of the Premier League. Hard-running, physical games, a relentless schedule—he came through it all, even scoring three league goals during one stint.

Those performances were an important audition. They showed that McAtee wasn’t just a delicate academy talent; he could mix it up in the toughest league in the world. And Nottingham Forest were watching.

Forest’s vision: young, hungry, and ambitious

Under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have tried to sharpen their identity—attack-minded, resilient, and young. McAtee fits neatly into that blueprint: a player who can drift between creative midfield roles, link up play in tight spaces, and grow with the team.

Yes, €25 million is a hefty investment. But it’s also a sign of ambition. Forest have been building a squad not just for survival, but for a stronger future, balancing experience with players who could blossom—and maybe even carry resale value down the road. McAtee ticks every box.

City’s business model—produce, polish, sell

For City, letting go of McAtee wasn’t a sign of failure—it was business as usual. Over the past few years, the club has quietly mastered a system: nurture academy talents, and if they can’t squeeze into Guardiola’s superstar machine, sell them on for a premium. Cole Palmer to Chelsea, Romeo Lavia via Southampton—McAtee is simply the latest name on the list.

The model serves two purposes:

It keeps the books balanced with pure profit (helpful for Financial Fair Play rules).
It opens room in the squad for the next global recruit.

It’s ruthlessly efficient, if not a little heartbreaking for fans who love to see local kids make it into the first team.

What comes next

Forest kick off their season at home to Brentford on Sunday, and while it’s not certain if McAtee will debut straight away, you can bet he’ll be thrown into the action sooner rather than later. The team has leaned heavily on Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi for attacking spark. Now, McAtee joins that mix with a real chance to prove City may have let one slip away.

For some players, the leap from “promising talent” to “established Premier League player” comes suddenly. All it takes is the right team, the right manager, and the chance to run the show. McAtee is about to find out if Nottingham Forest is the place where his story takes off.