Middlesbrough confirmed the arrival of versatile Ghanaian defender on a free transfer from Manchester City earlier this week as Boro opened their summer transfer account. The 20-year-old has agreed a two-year deal at the Riverside and will move to the Boro when his contract expires at the end of June.
Not much is known of the versatile youngster, who made 13 appearances for City’s U21s as they retained their Premier League 2 title and Boro’s coaches are expected to have a closer look at Agyemang this summer.
“From the little I’ve seen of Agyemang, he played as a proper full-back, willing to get up and down the flanks,” said Joe Bray, Manchester City reporter for the Manchester Evening News. “City like their full-backs to come inside, but also use them to support the attack in the academy, so he should be able to play as a traditional right-back as well as the modern inverted midfielder that City have pioneered.”
Guardiola’s Man City has acted as a breeding ground for the next wave of generational talents, tipped to make it into the big time. The likes of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap have all enjoyed runs in the first-team at the Etihad, but not all make the grade.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a good player in there. “You’ve got to be a good player to be at City, and there’s no shame in not making the first team set-up, Bray added.
“Plenty of players leave the City academy and have good careers, from the loan players mentioned, to others like Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz at the top end, and plenty of other EFL players at the other end. If he’s given the chance to develop, he can easily make the most of leaving City, and maybe be better for it.
“It’s hard for any academy player to make the step up, and with Agyemang being 20 he probably had less time to impress the coaches. With Rico Lewis making the step up in some style this season and playing a key role in City’s double (or treble if they win the Champions League), that shows the level he would have to be at to stand a chance at City.
“There were a few City under-21s impressing in the Championship this season – Tommy Doyle, James McAtee, Callum Doyle, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Josh Wilson-Esbrand – so if that is the level of their best U21 players, then there’s no reason he can’t compete at that level.”
