Manchester City are a club that have become known for big money signings, superstars arriving for record-breaking fees, and players who change the face of football with their brilliance. But behind all the glamour of the first team and the bright lights of the Etihad Stadium, there is another side to the club, a quieter but equally important part of the operation. It is the academy, the breeding ground for the next generation of talent, the place where dreams begin. And in 2025, City once again showed that they are not only chasing the best players in the world but also investing in the future by bringing in one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Britain.
His name is Ben Vickery, just 16 years old, but already making headlines. Manchester City completed the deal to sign him from Hibernian, the proud Scottish Premiership club based in Edinburgh. The fee was described as “substantial” for someone so young, believed to be around £200,000, with a smartly negotiated sell-on clause that ensures Hibs will benefit if the goalkeeper reaches the heights many expect him to.
For Hibs, it was bittersweet. They had nurtured Ben since he was just 10 years old, watched him grow from a skinny kid at the academy into a strong teenager capable of holding his own against older players. He was already playing for Hibs’ Under-18s at just 15, showing bravery beyond his years and a confidence that marked him out as different. But when Manchester City came calling, the opportunity was simply too big to refuse.
Ben’s journey is a story of persistence and talent. He had represented Scotland at Under-16 level, proud to wear the dark blue shirt. But his path soon took another twist when he switched to England and began playing for their Under-17 team. It was a sign of his dual heritage, but also of his ambition. He wanted to test himself at the very top, to play for a country with one of the deepest footballing traditions, and now, by moving to City, he has put himself in the perfect place to grow.
Hibernian’s sporting director, Malky Mackay, spoke openly about the transfer. There was no bitterness, no anger. Instead, there was pride. “Ben is a young player with a lot of potential,” he said, “and that is why there was a lot of interest in him from elite clubs in England. It’s a credit to our staff and the Hibs Academy that we’ve helped him get to this point. When Manchester City show interest in a player like Ben, it is very hard for the boy to turn it down. After his successful trial, we worked hard to get a deal that truly reflected his value. Too often, Scottish clubs lose talented youngsters for nothing more than training compensation. This time, we made sure Hibs got what the player was worth. And I have to thank Manchester City for the way they conducted themselves in negotiations. They were respectful, professional, and we wish Ben all the best for his future.”
Those words carried weight. In modern football, there is often tension when a big club swoops in to take a young talent from a smaller side. There can be accusations of bullying, of unfairness, of money overpowering everything. But here, City have been praised. They handled the deal properly, ensured Hibs were looked after, and made sure the player’s best interests were put first. In an age where transfers can get ugly, this was a reminder that football can still be done with respect.
For Manchester City, the move is another example of their long-term vision. Pep Guardiola’s first team might be filled with stars, but the club never stops looking to the future. The academy is stacked with talent, from Phil Foden who has already become a homegrown hero, to the likes of Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, and more waiting in the wings. Adding a goalkeeper like Ben Vickery is part of that plan, ensuring that every position is strengthened not just for today, but for tomorrow.
Vickery has already tasted life in Manchester. The deal was agreed earlier this year, and he joined up with his new teammates over the summer. Last week, he was on the bench for City’s Under-18s as they thrashed Blackburn Rovers 7–3 in the Under-18 Premier League. He didn’t play, but simply being part of that squad, surrounded by the best young talents in England, is the beginning of a journey that could take him all the way to the Etihad first team.
For the teenager, the move is a dream. Growing up, he watched Premier League football on TV, seeing the likes of David de Gea, Alisson Becker, and Ederson—City’s own Brazilian No.1—make world-class saves week after week. Now he will train at the same facilities as Ederson, Stefan Ortega, and the other senior goalkeepers. He will have access to the best coaches, the best sports science, the best environment a young player could wish for.
It is not just about football either. City’s academy is about shaping characters. They focus on education, discipline, mental resilience. Many young players dream of the big time but never make it. City want to give Ben every chance to succeed, but also every tool to handle the pressure. At just 16, he has already shown the focus needed. Leaving home, leaving his country, leaving the club that raised him—these are not easy decisions. But Ben took them with maturity, knowing that challenges bring growth.m
For Hibernian, losing him hurts, but it also brings pride. They know their academy is working. To produce a player good enough for Manchester City at 16 is no small achievement. And the sell-on clause means that if Vickery fulfils his potential, Hibs will benefit financially again. In a football world where Scottish clubs often struggle to keep up financially with their English neighbours, these deals are lifelines. They keep the system alive, keep academies motivated to produce the next star.
The fans at Easter Road will remember him as one that got away, but they will watch with interest as his career unfolds. If he becomes a star in the Premier League, they will always be able to say: “We had him first.”
Manchester City, meanwhile, continue their silent build. While newspapers are filled with stories of £100m signings, behind the scenes they are picking up gems like Ben Vickery. These moves do not always make the headlines, but they can shape the future. For every superstar bought, another can be grown. It is this balance that has made City the most powerful force in English football today.
What makes this signing stand out is the praise City have received for their conduct. In an era where transfer wars often end with bitterness, City showed class. They respected Hibs, they respected the player, and they made sure the deal worked for everyone. That is why this move has been noticed not just for the player involved, but for the way it was handled.
The question now is simple: what will Ben Vickery become? The journey of a goalkeeper is never straightforward. Unlike outfield players, goalkeepers often peak later, in their late twenties or even thirties. At 16, Vickery has a long road ahead. There will be loans, mistakes, setbacks. But there will also be moments of brilliance, games where he shows why City believed in him. If he stays focused, if he learns from the best, there is no reason why he cannot become another academy success story.
For now, he is just beginning. Sitting on the bench for the Under-18s, training every day, learning the City way. His time will come. And when it does, fans will look back at this transfer and say: this was where it all started.
The move also speaks to a wider truth about Manchester City. They are not just buying success, as critics sometimes say. They are building it, carefully, piece by piece. Every department of the club is aligned, from the first team to the academy, from the scouts in Scotland to the coaches in Manchester. Signing Ben Vickery is not just about one player—it is about a philosophy, a belief that the future matters just as much as the present.
And so, on a quiet September afternoon in 2025, away from the noise of the Premier League battles, Manchester City made another statement. Not with a blockbuster signing, not with a record fee, but with the capture of a 16-year-old goalkeeper who could one day stand tall in the Etihad Stadium. Ben Vickery, once of Hibs, now of City. The future has arrived, and it wears gloves
