Claudio Echeverri joins Bayer Leverkusen on loan | OneFootball

Claudio Echeverri will spend the 2025/26 campaign in Germany after sealing a season-long loan move to Bayer Leverkusen.

The 19-year-old Argentine midfielder, widely tipped as one of Manchester City’s brightest prospects, heads to the Bundesliga to pick up more first-team minutes. The agreement does not include an option to buy, underlining how highly they rate him for the future.

Echeverri only officially became a City player earlier this year, having joined from River Plate in January 2024 before seeing out the rest of his spell in Buenos Aires. He linked up with Pep Guardiola’s squad in February 2025 and was eased into senior football with a couple of late cameos.

His debut came at Wembley in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace and a second appearance followed on the last day of the Premier League season at Fulham, as City wrapped up a top-three finish.

The teenager grabbed his first goal for the club this summer in the FIFA Club World Cup, bending in a stunning free-kick against Al-Ain in Atlanta.

Now, Leverkusen under their new campaign will provide him with the platform to continue his development, with City keeping a close eye on his progress.