A Manchester City midfielder gets the move he needs and the possibility to return to City remains open | OneFootball

When the summer transfer window opened, James McAtee always seemed like a player who was destined to leave Manchester City. McAtee had a frustrating 24/25 season. He showed flashes of talent but didn’t play as much as he would have liked. McAtee played 27 times in all competitions and scored seven goals. Those statistics show that McAtee was underutilised but did have his moments. To grow as a player, McAtee needs consistent first-team football, which wouldn’t be available to him in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

It has been reported that James McAtee is on the verge of signing for Nottingham Forest. Furthermore, it is reported that Manchester City have included a buy-back clause in the deal that will see McAtee sign for Forest. So the potential is there for McAtee to one day return to the Etihad.

Nottingham Forest have agreed to sign James McAtee from Manchester City.

David Ornstein has reported for The Athletic that Nottingham Forest will sign James McAtee in a package worth up to £30 million. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that Manchester City have included a buy-back and sell-on clause in the deal. Lastly, it is reported that McAtee will operate as a number eight or ten for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.

The possibility of James McAtee returning to City is there if he kicks on at Nottingham Forest.

James McAtee is now set to take the next step in his career. He spent last season on the periphery of Pep Guardiola’s squad. There were glimpses shown of his undoubted talent last season. His hat trick against Salford City was one such instance. But he needs consistent first-team football to develop. McAtee wouldn’t get that opportunity at Manchester City next season.

He now has the opportunity he needs at Nottingham Forest. When the move is confirmed, it will be up to McAtee to seize the opportunity in front of him. If he can seize that opportunity, the path to return to the Etihad as a more mature and rounded player is there. The fact that City have included a buy-back clause in the deal to sell McAtee shows what City think of McAtee’s potential. It isn’t out of the realms of possibility that McAtee could follow the path set out by James Trafford who returned to City after two seasons at Burnley.

James McAtee is set to sign for Nottingham Forest imminently. That is the move that McAtee needed to grow as a player. Manchester City will receive a good transfer fee for a player with one year left on his contract. How McAtee performs for Forest will be worth watching to see if he does have a chance of one day returning to the Etihad.