Manchester City have packed their pre-season squad with young talents, and among them is the electrifying winger Joel Ndala.
Despite the absence of big names like Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Bernardo Silva, Manchester City might have an exciting winger ready to dazzle fans on their pre-season tour. Joel Ndala, one of the academy’s rising stars, has been handed a golden opportunity to catch Pep Guardiola’s eye this summer. Having made a significant impact in the Elite Development Squad last season, Ndala’s progression sees him poised for greater challenges.
Last season, Ndala balanced his time between the under-21s and under-18s, playing a crucial role in City’s FA Youth Cup triumph. He scored against senior opposition in the EFL Trophy, featured in the UEFA Youth League, and regularly joined the first team in training. His impressive performances earned him a spot on the trip to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup last December, where he integrated with the squad and soaked in the experience.
Although he wasn’t part of the official Club World Cup squad, Ndala’s time with the team was invaluable, and he now aims for a similar role this pre-season. Known for his trickery and flair, Ndala has the skills to ignite the excitement of fans, constantly pressuring full-backs and creating opportunities for his teammates. He showcased his talent as England’s first-choice left-winger at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia last November, assisting two goals in a 10-0 victory over New Caledonia and scoring in subsequent games against Iran, Brazil, and Uzbekistan.
Born in Manchester but raised in France, Ndala has roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He returned to the UK at age seven and joined City’s ranks from Port Vale’s academy in 2017. His journey through City’s youth system has brought him to the brink of the senior squad.
Callum Rollings, Ndala’s former coach at Port Vale, told the Guardian, “Joel was the one bright spark from England’s team at the World Cup who everyone wants to know about now. But I’m sure he will make an even bigger name for himself in the future. From the first moment you could tell he was something special. He just had this belief in his own ability, even though he was such a young lad. Joel’s the best I’ve ever seen at that age. It was always like he was still playing in the playground.”
Ndala’s prodigious talent was evident early on, leading to a rapid rise through the ranks. “He was just unbelievable – in his own age group he stood out like a sore thumb,” Rollings added. “We did try to hide him a little bit but the main thing was that he wasn’t being tested and that’s why he went up two years. There was always a lot of interest around him.”
Following a narrow loss to United in the Premier League 2 earlier this year, City’s EDS coach Brian Barry-Murphy highlighted Ndala’s potential areas for improvement. “What you’re seeing with Joel Ndala is he’s a high-level wide player, but he’s not getting what he feels he deserves in terms of finishing. That can only improve with what he does in training,” Barry-Murphy told MEN Sport. “That’s the bit which excites us most in terms of what we can do to develop him.”
Ndala has the potential, pace, tricks, and talent to make a mark this summer. Now, it’s up to him to showcase his abilities and add the finishing touch to his game on the big stage in front of massive crowds.
