In 2017 Flick Football met young talent within the Manchester City Academy. Many of the group have had incredible journeys since 2017 but today we tell the story of Nico O’Reilly and his meteoric rise to becoming Pep Guardiola’s top picks for this season in the Manchester City first team.
Watch his journey take shape now...
Joining the academy as an eight-year-old Nico went on to play regularly for the under 18’s in the 2021/22 season with which he won the age groups Premier League title. He continued his form making 32 appearances the year after scoring 13 goals and making 14 assists.
In the 2023/24 season he won the Academy Goal of the Year by scoring from the halfway line against Nottingham Forrest.
“We saw it last season when Nico O’Reilly was training with us, he’s a guy who will be a player. He will be a player.” Pep Guardiola
For the 2024/25 Pre-Season he made his first senior debut in July 2024 in the pre-season friendly against Celtic. He has also made an appearance against Barcelona (and scored) and in the Community Shield final against Manchester United.
There’s a very good chance you will see more of Nico this coming season for the Manchester City first team.
2024: Nico's First Team Breakthrough
O’Reilly made his senior debut for Manchester City in the 2024 Community Shield against Manchester United in August 2024.
January 2025 saw him score his first senior goal netting in an 8–0 FA Cup win over Salford City. He shortly he made his first Premier League debut after that.
2025: Breakout Season
Two assists in a 2–1 FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth, earning Man of the Match.
First Premier League goal in a 5–2 win vs. Crystal Palace on 12 April. It was also great to see a fantastic volley from him for City's fifth goal.
October 2025 he received his first England senior call-up and made his full international debut in a win vs. Serbia at Wembley.
December 2025 he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal and got Man of the Match in a 2–1 away win against Real Madrid. It's a major milestone that emphasises his rapid development on Europe’s biggest stage.
Nico O’Reilly has enjoyed a brilliant rise through 2024 and 2025, breaking into Manchester City’s first team, scoring key goals, and earning his first England senior cap. We’re incredibly proud at Football Flick to have supported his journey and to see him achieve such fantastic progress on the biggest stages.
