Manchester City’s latest arrival, Claudio Echeverri, has officially landed in Manchester, but fans will have to wait a little longer to see him in action. Despite signing with City Football Group back in January 2024, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder spent the past year on loan at River Plate in Argentina. Now, he is finally at the Etihad, ready to integrate into Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Guardiola has made it clear that Echeverri won’t be thrown straight into first-team action. Speaking after City’s victory over Tottenham, he outlined the club’s plan for the young Argentine:
“He’s going to start training, and mainly, he’ll be ready toward the end of the season. Maybe for the [Club] World Cup, and as soon as possible, he can adapt quickly for the future.”
Echeverri has already built an impressive reputation. Dubbed ‘the next Messi,’ the teenager has shown he’s more than just hype. At the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, he scored six goals in nine matches, including braces against Brazil and Uruguay, helping Argentina finish as runners-up. He has also made 48 senior appearances for River Plate, scoring four goals and providing eight assists. In 2023, he captained Argentina at the Under-17 World Cup, where he added five more goals to his name.
City’s January transfer window saw them secure four major signings: striker Omar Marmoush, who announced himself with a hattrick on his home debut, defensive talents Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, and ‘mini-Rodri’ Nico Gonzalez. Now, Echeverri joins the growing list of exciting young prospects at the club.
While he won’t immediately feature in City’s starting lineup unless injuries create an opportunity, he will be an exciting addition to the City Football Academy. There’s a possibility he could be included in an FA Cup squad, but the Club World Cup this summer seems like a more realistic stage for his first real test.
Manchester City will begin their campaign in the tournament on June 18, 2025, facing Moroccan side Wydad AC.