Manchester City defender spotted at new club as loan transfer close to completion | OneFootball

A formal announcement of a season-long loan for highly-rated Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey appears to be right around the corner.

The 19-year-old has been edging closer to a temporary switch to Celtic in recent days, with the Scottish Premiership champions looking to bolster their defensive ranks before the competitive schedule ramps up in intensity.

Simpson-Pusey, who has been on the radar of several clubs across England and further afield in Europe, now looks poised to make the step into first-team senior football in Glasgow under Brendan Rodgers.

His expected move to Celtic follows a growing pattern of City sending top academy talent out on developmental loans. The club recently entered talks with Watford over a potential loan for Max Alleyne, while Simpson-Pusey’s own switch to Scotland mirrors similar moves taken by players like Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Callum Doyle.

Manchester City have made a clear commitment to ensuring their academy players gain meaningful minutes in senior football, believing that a strategy of pushing younger defenders into first-team environments capable of nurturing high-pressure habits is crucial for those with long-term potential to compete under Pep Guardiola.

Now, as a deal closes in on a formal announcement, Manchester City’s Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was spotted in the stands at Parkhead on Sunday for Celtic’s Scottish Premiership opening weekend win against St Mirren.

Speaking to reporters after the contest and the slight delay in an announcement of a deal for the teenage defender, manager Brendan Rodgers said, “We’re still waiting for clearance on that one. But he’s up here.”

The former Liverpool boss and now Celtic tactician continued, “And I think obviously once it’s definite, then it’ll be announced. But yes, he’s up here ready for the move.”

Simpson-Pusey’s arrival at Celtic Park would represent a significant opportunity for the youngster, with Rodgers confirming earlier in the week that the club had selected him for his “dominant” style and ball-playing ability – two traits essential for centre-backs operating under the demands of both domestic and European competition.

Celtic’s need for central defensive reinforcements is clear, with the club set to compete on multiple fronts across a packed calendar. The teenager will need to adapt quickly, having missed pre-season action with Manchester City, but coaching staff in Glasgow are optimistic that his natural attributes will see him thrive under the right guidance.

From City’s point of view, the loan is expected to follow their typical structure, including performance reviews and regular development check-ins. Should Simpson-Pusey impress north of the border, he could return next summer in contention for senior consideration.

While Celtic await final clearance, there is confidence from all sides that the move will be confirmed imminently, making Simpson-Pusey the latest talent from the Etihad Campus to be tested in a first-team setting, and further evidence of Manchester City’s widening influence in Europe’s elite markets.