Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly has been named the Premier League Academy Graduate of the Year, the club officially confirmed.
The award was presented Tuesday evening at the Premier League Academy Development Conference and Awards Dinner, held at Wembley Stadium.
O’Reilly, 21, has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Pep Guardiola’s first team. Originally a midfielder in the youth ranks, Guardiola identified his unique qualities and converted him into a left-back role. The coach leveraged his physical strength, passing ability, and stamina, allowing O’Reilly to excel at both ends of the pitch and quickly establish himself as a regular starter.
This season, O’Reilly has made 33 Premier League appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists. His contributions have been vital in Manchester City’s push for the 2025/26 Premier League title. Since January, City have gone 13 games unbeaten, with O’Reilly featuring in 12 of those matches. He has also been part of the squad’s 15 clean sheets throughout the campaign.
One of his standout performances came at the Etihad Stadium, where he scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United. That display came just six months after the lifelong City fan signed a new contract with the club.
His impressive form also earned him a senior debut for the England national team, making this a truly memorable season for the young defender.
The award recognizes on-field performances, and O’Reilly continues Manchester City’s proud academy tradition, becoming the third consecutive City academy graduate to win the accolade, following Liam Delap and Cole Palmer.
The entire Manchester City squad and staff have congratulated Nico O’Reilly on this achievement.
