The short answer
Manchester City (Premier League) runs a Category 1 academy with squads from Under-9. It can register Under-9 to Under-11 players who live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1½ hours (no limit at Under-14 to Under-16 on the full-time model). From Under-17 there is no limit. The academy is based at City Football Academy, Manchester.
| League 2026/27 | Premier League |
| Academy | Category 1 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | City Football Academy, Manchester |
How far Manchester City can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 1 academy can only register players who live within these travel times of its main training venue:
| Age group | Travel limit |
|---|---|
| Under-9 to Under-11 | 1 hour |
| Under-12 to Under-16 | 1½ hours (no limit Under-14 to Under-16 on the full-time model) |
| Under-17 to Under-21 | No limit |
Trials have their own limits: 1 hour at Under-9 to Under-11, 1½ hours at Under-12 and Under-13, and no limit from Under-14 to Under-16 (Rule 270).
Scout52 Apps
Get the real journey time from a postcode
Scout52 Apps works out the drive time from a family's postcode to your training ground at real training times (weekday 5pm and 6pm, Saturday morning), with no traffic and by public transport. It also has an EPPP compensation calculator. £3.99 a month, unlimited.
Compensation if a player leaves Manchester City
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the Manchester City academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because Manchester City wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 1 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at Manchester City from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £215,000 in training costs, before any appearance payments. Read how it works in our EPPP compensation guide.
Scout52 Apps
Need the compensation figure for a real player?
The EPPP compensation calculator in Scout52 Apps works out the training compensation year by year from the age groups and academy category, plus the appearance payments on top. Sign up for £3.99 a month or £36 a year.
Nearest other academies
Approximate straight-line distance between academy bases. Journey times by road will be longer.
| Club | Category | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Rochdale | Category 3 | 3 miles |
| Oldham Athletic | Category 3 | 4 miles |
| Stockport County | Category 3 | 6 miles |
| Salford City | Category 3 | 7 miles |
| Manchester United | Category 1 | 9 miles |
| Bolton Wanderers | Category 2 | 15 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the Manchester City academy?
Manchester City runs a Category 1 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can Manchester City recruit academy players from?
Under-9 to Under-11 players must live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1 and a half hours, except Under-14 to Under-16 players on the full-time model, who have no limit. From Under-17 there is no limit.
Where does the Manchester City academy train?
The Manchester City academy is based at City Football Academy, Manchester.
Source: Derby County: Under-18s 2026/27 league fixtures revealed (U18 PL = 31 Category One academies; lists North group) (2026-08-11); Under-18 Premier League explained (Premier League) - 31 Category One academies; Bournemouth + Brentford added for 2026/27 (undated (accessed 2026-10-29)). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.