FC Utrecht have confirmed that Manchester City have signed 16-year-old goalkeeper Mikki van Sas, via a statement on their official website.
The stopper had a contract at the Dutch club until 2022 and it appears that, as a result, Utrecht have received a fee for their young stopper.
Van Sas has been playing in the U17 Eredivisie, making five appearances for Utrecht this season, with his side leading the way by two points from AZ Alkmaar.
He has also been capped at U15 and U16 level by the Netherlands, and he will now link up with City’s academy as he continues his development.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Technical Director Jordy Zuidam expressed his disappointment at van Sas’s departure, though he believes that a move to such a huge English club is a glowing review of the club’s youth facilities.
He said: “We say goodbye to Mikki with mixed feelings. On the one hand, we regret that in the person of Mikki an incredibly talented goalkeeper leaves our Academy. We would of course have liked to see Mikki shine in the Galgenwaard Stadium, which is what we train for.
“On the other hand, Mikki said that he really wanted to make this move and we also see his transfer to Manchester City as a compliment to our youth academy.
“This transition confirms the elevated level of the Academy. We have reached an agreement with Manchester City on the transfer terms and all parties are satisfied. We wish Mikki every success in England. ”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This is a bold move from van Sas.
Of course, one cannot make the claim that the goalkeeper is going to be anywhere near Pep Guardiola’s first-team anytime soon.
But even still, he is making a move that will surely challenge him and make him perhaps the most highly-rated goalkeeper in the club’s academy.
A youth international, he has already played at a remarkably high level but City is a remarkably different challenge.
It remains to be seen if he will be able to force his way into the club’s first-team plans in the next few years; it is down to him to make this move a success.