Manchester City young midfielder, James McAtee, is reportedly exploring opportunities abroad as he seeks to further his career development. The 22-year-old has scheduled a visit to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt next week.
After gaining senior experience for the first time under Pep Guardiola in the last season, McAtee appears ready to take on new challenges. Despite demonstrating flashes of brilliance in both the Championship and Premier League during his loan spells with Sheffield United, consistent first-team minutes have been elusive due to stiff competition within Manchester City’s midfield.
The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovačić and Phil Foden were ahead of him in last season’s pecking order. This has led McAtee to consider options outside England despite interest from within the Premier League and Serie A clubs.
Potential transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, McAtee plans a visit to Eintracht Frankfurt with an aim of familiarizing himself with the club and discussing potential transfer possibilities. However, it is clarified that this visit does not involve any medical tests as there is currently no agreement in place for the midfielder.
Eintracht Frankfurt wishes to explore whether a transfer for McAtee can be realized this summer given their several options for his position in their squad. The race for securing the signature of this Manchester City talent remains open amid ongoing interest from other Bundesliga clubs including Borussia Dortmund. This latest development adds intrigue into what lies ahead for McAtee especially considering Eintracht Frankfurt's reputation for nurturing young talents and giving playtime opportunities to technical attack-minded midfielders like him.
Borussia Dortmund’s interest will surely attract attention given their track record of providing prospects a platform — Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham being prime examples. Should McAtee seriously consider Signal Iduna Park, it could fast-track his development and exposure on the European stage.
Manchester City's Stance
Manchester City is known to entertain buy-back clauses and structured deals for academy graduates, allowing them to develop elsewhere with a potential path back to the Etihad Stadium should they excel. The club may be reluctant to lose control over high-potential academy players like McAtee without some form of buy-back or sell-on clause.
As it stands, the situation remains fluid. While McAtee’s planned visit to Frankfurt may not result in an immediate agreement, it does signal intent from both parties. A permanent move to Germany — if realized — could represent a bold but potentially rewarding step in his career.
