Manchester City agrees academy deal for Heaven Kilwa

Manchester City agrees academy deal for Heaven Kilwa

Manchester City has agreed a deal to sign Aston Villa academy winger Heaven Kilwa, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 16-year-old has signed the required paperwork, and the Premier League’s five-step approval process is now underway. City must wait for that process to be completed before it can register Kilwa or announce his arrival.

Kilwa primarily plays on the left wing but can also move across to the right side. He has represented England at Under-15 and Under-16 level, collecting 11 appearances and scoring once for the Under-16 team.

He moved into Aston Villa’s Under-18 squad during the 2025/26 season, despite being younger than most of the players in the competition. Kilwa made his debut from the bench against West Ham in October 2025 and scored five minutes from time.

That was one of two goals he produced across six Under-18 Premier League appearances. He had already scored twice for Villa’s Under-16 team earlier on the same day as his Under-18 debut, giving the club an early indication that he could handle a higher age group.

Kilwa reportedly rejected the opportunity to continue at Villa Park on scholarship terms. His age means City will not pay a conventional senior transfer fee, although Villa may receive academy compensation for the years spent developing him.

The winger will initially join City’s youth structure rather than move directly into the senior squad. His speed, ability to attack full-backs from either side and experience with England’s junior teams made him an attractive prospect for the Manchester club.

City has regularly invested in players before they reach the senior level. Sverre Nypan joined the club as another highly rated teenager, although the Norwegian arrived with considerably more first-team experience.

Kilwa’s move is at a later stage than a standard academy rumor because the paperwork has already been signed. The remaining Premier League procedure is still important, particularly when a player under 18 moves between two English academies.

Status: Manchester City has agreed an academy deal for Heaven Kilwa, and the 16-year-old has signed the paperwork. The Premier League’s five-step approval process is underway, but the transfer has not been approved or announced.

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