Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is known for his propensity for developing a strong youth program and promoting players from within, but he may have set a new mark even for himself.
Ahead of City’s upcoming EFL Cup match against Watford on September 23, the club has handed a debut to 16-year-old defender Kaden Braithwaite, who has apparently risen through the ranks at the club exceedingly fast.
Guardiola was expected to name a number of youth players for the match, which comes just two days after the emotional and taxing Premier League match against Arsenal, which ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a last-gasp equalizer by John Stones.
Yet he surprisingly stuck with a very strong squad full of first-choice players, as the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Jeremy Doku were deployed along the front line. Thus, Braithwaite’s spot in not just the squad but the starting lineup shows just how much the club believes in his bright talent.
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Who is Man City youth product Kaden Braithwaite?
Born in March 2008, Kaden Braithwaite has been part of the club’s youth setup since the U-9 level, but only recently signed on with Manchester City this past summer as one of 12 players to secure an academy scholarships in July 2024.
At just 16 years old, Braithwaite has appeared in all four of Man City U-18’s matches this season, already named vice captain of a squad that includes Reigan Heskey, Emile Heskey’s son and brother of another Man City youth star Jaden Heskey. Braithwaite has also been a part of England’s U-17 setup of late, scoring against Germany in a recent 3-1 victory in September.
Braithwaite is a versatile left-footed defender who can play left-back or center-back, which is an ideal profile for the kind of players Pep Guardiola likes to deploy at the back. He can also play in midfield, according to Sam Lee of The Athletic.
With his starting spot against Watford in the EFL Cup, Braithwaite becomes the third-youngest defender to debut for Manchester City in club history, behind 15-year-old Glyn Pardoe in 1962 and 16-year-old Paul Simpson in 1982.
A debut to remember, Kaden ? pic.twitter.com/qr0tVh0Utt
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 24, 2024
Kaden Braithwaite makes instant impression after one training session
Braithwaite has not been with the Man City youth setup for long, but has already made an enormous impression on manager Pep Guardiola.
According to a report by Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Braithwaite made the matchday squad for the EFL Cup game against Watford on September 25 after enjoying just one single training session with the senior team.
In fact, Braithwaite’s debut has come even before he has a photo on Man City’s official website, underpinning just how fast he’s turned heads at the club.
He would make it 76 minutes into his debut with a clean sheet intact before appearing to struggle for fitness which prompted the entrance of Josko Gvardiol in his stead. While the conclusion was somewhat disappointing, Braithwaite nonetheless impressed with a clean performance, completing 63 of his 66 passes (95%), losing possession just four times in 77 touches while winning two of his three ground duels including one successful tackle.