Jayden Braaf has confirmed he will leave Manchester City this summer after recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out for most of the season.

Braaf, 19, arrived at City in 2019 as a highly-rated 16-year-old, and quickly made a name for himself in the academy as a tricky winger with plenty of flair and scorer of impressive individual goals. However, after being named Player’s Player of the ear in 2020 for the Under-23 side and time spent training with the first team, the teenager grew frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities under Pep Guardiola.

The following year was a difficult one as Braaf was frozen out of the Under-23s side after contributing to the club’s first FA Youth Cup title in a decade. In January 2021, the winger joined Serie A side Udinese on a six-month loan move with an option to buy for £9m at the end of the season.

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Braaf impressed in flashes in Italy as he was eased into action, scoring his first professional goal, but suffered knee ligament damage that ended his season and has kept him out of action for a year. City were willing to sanction a permanent exit in January as he worked his way back to fitness, but no transfer materialised.

In recent weeks, Braaf has posted updates of him running and training again at the City Football Academy, but he has now confirmed that he will leave the club with his contract expiring this summer.

On Instagram, he posted a video of his highlights for the academy in the Premier League 2, FA Youth Cup and EFL Trophy, writing: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at Man City for the faith and support they’ve shown in me over the last few years.

“I’ve grown both personally and professionally and wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance. To my teammates, the academy staff and the fans, thank you! A big shout out to @nickoakley84 for working with me on my rehab and bringing me in the position I’m in now. All the best for the future.”

In Braaf’s absence, players like Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Liam Delap, Sam Edozie, Kayky and Oscar Bobb have kicked on and made senior appearances for City.





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