Oscar Bobb’s Emergence: The Next Big Thing from Manchester City’s Academy
Phil Foden has always been the gold standard for graduates from Manchester City’s academy, setting a seemingly unattainable bar. His path from a promising 16-year-old to a 23-year-old winning the Premier League’s top individual awards is nothing short of remarkable. Yet, as Foden’s star rose, it also illuminated the possibility of academy players breaking into the first team.
One young player who briefly flirted with reaching Foden’s level was Cole Palmer during the first half of the 2021/22 season. At just 19, Palmer showcased his potential with a superb goal off the bench against Club Brugge in the Champions League, a confident Premier League debut against Everton, and a commanding performance in the FA Cup against Swindon. Despite these impressive displays, injuries hindered Palmer’s progress, preventing City from seeing the best of him. Nonetheless, he reminded everyone of his talent during the European Championship, where he exceeded expectations and outshone more seasoned teammates.
Now, another academy star is stepping into the spotlight: Oscar Bobb. This summer’s pre-season friendlies have seen Bobb emerge as a standout performer, outshining not just academy peers but also established names like Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips. While pre-season matches don’t always reveal much, Bobb’s performances have been impossible to ignore.
Pep Guardiola has already shown faith in Bobb, giving him opportunities beyond his years. Whether coming off the bench or starting in high-pressure situations, Bobb has consistently risen to the occasion. His standout moment came with a sensational Premier League-winning performance at Newcastle and a remarkable display in the Champions League against Red Star, where he scored his first goal in the competition with a brilliant solo effort. Guardiola’s assessment was clear: “He’s not a player who comes up, down from the academy, he’s a reality for us.”
Though Bobb has yet to feature in the biggest games, his handling of every challenge presented to him suggests he is ready for more significant occasions. If he’s outshining Grealish against teams like Celtic and AC Milan, he is undoubtedly a contender for substantial minutes once the Premier League kicks off.
At the very least, Bobb provides City with unexpected depth at the start of the season. With Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva, and Savinho only beginning their pre-season preparations next week in Manchester, Bobb looks poised to start the Community Shield and could very well feature in the line-ups against Chelsea and Ipswich.
With each performance, Bobb’s ceiling rises, and so do his chances of securing regular first-team football. His trajectory mirrors the early days of Foden and Palmer, suggesting he might be the next big thing to come out of City’s academy.
