Confirmed: Flying Eagles-eligible central defender signs new deal with Manchester City 

With a statement on the club's official website, English Premier League champions Manchester City have announced the intake of academy scholars for the 2024-2025 season.

Adeleke Drake is the latest player of Nigerian descent to sign a scholarship deal with the Citizens and has been promoted to the U18 team with immediate effect.

The Flying Eagles-eligible central defender has inked a new contract at City three years after joining the Manchester club from Stevenage.

The other first year scholars who signed scholarships are: Kaden Braithwaite, Seth Chingwaro, Charlie Courtman, Reigan Heskey, Max Hudson, Jayden Lienou, Stephen Mfuni, Kylan Midwood, Tyrone Samba, Oliver Tevenan and Oliver Whatmuff.

The twelve players received a Manchester City cap and signed their scholarship deals in front of their family and friends at the Academy's scholar signing event at the City Football Academy over the summer.  

Leke is highly rated by the Manchester City academy coaches as he debuted in both the U18 Premier League and Premier League 2 during his last season as a schoolboy.

Although the defender is seemingly a fan of the Super Eagles as he follows the senior national team on Instagram, he is an England youth international and became provisionally cap-tied to the 1966 world champions after appearing in a European U17 Championship qualifier against Kosovo in November 2023.

Leke will be aiming to emulate Tosin Adarabioyo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nedum Onuoha, Samuel Edozie, Kevin Etuhu, and Reece Wabara who rose through the youth team ranks to make their first team debuts for Manchester City. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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