There is no Phil Foden, no Jeremy Doku and no Bernardo Silva – but if Manchester City want a winger to excite fans on their pre-season tour they could have one who has been under their noses all along.
One of many academy call-ups, Joel Ndala has been given the chance to impress Pep Guardiola this summer after making the step up to the Elite Development Squad last season. Ndala found his time split between the under-21s and dropping down to the under-18s for the FA Youth Cup success in which he started every tie except the third to help lead the Young Blues to the trophy.
He scored in the EFL Trophy against senior opposition, featured in the UEFA Youth League and was also a regular in first team training. He impressed to the point that he was taken to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup last December
Ndala was not included in the official squad for that tournament but spent time with the group and attended the games, and now looks for a similar experience this summer in pre-season.
A tricky winger, Ndala has the ability to get fans off their seats, pinning full-backs back and creating chances for teammates. Last November he was first-choice left-winger for England at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia. Despite a disappointing tournament for the Young Lions, Ndala set up two goals in the opening 10-0 win over New Caledonia, before scoring in the next three games against Iran, Brazil and in the surprise defeat to Uzbekistan.
Born in Manchester, Ndala grew up in France and has family connections to the Democratic Republic of Congo, before returning to the UK aged seven. After coming through the Port Vale academy, City bought him in 2017 and he has risen through the ranks to the fringes of Guardiola’s squad.
Callum Rollings, a former coach of Ndala’s at Port Vale, told the Guardian last year: “Joel was the one bright spark from England’s team at the World Cup who everyone wants to know about now. But I’m sure he will make an even bigger name for himself in the future.
“From the first moment you could tell he was something special. It doesn’t happen much – he was spotted playing in the playground and the teacher gave us a call. He just had this belief in his own ability, even though he was such a young lad. Joel’s the best I’ve ever seen at that age. It was always like he was still playing in the playground.
![JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 19: Joel Ndala of Manchester City arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Semi-Final match between Urawa Reds and Manchester City at King Abdullah Sports City on December 19, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tullio Puglia - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)](https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article29552234.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_GettyImages-1867763401.jpg)
“He was just unbelievable – in his own age group he stood out like a sore thumb. We did try to hide him a little bit but the main thing was that he wasn’t being tested and that’s why he went up two years. There was always a lot of interest around him.”
Earlier this year, after City narrowly lost a derby to United in the Premier League 2, Ndala’s EDS coach Brian Barry-Murphy laid out where he must improve.
“What you’re seeing with Joel Ndala is he’s a high-level wide player, but he’s not getting what he feels he deserves in terms of finishing. That can only improve with what he does in training,” Barry-Murphy told MEN Sport. “That’s the bit which excites us most in terms of what we can do to develop him.”
Ndala has the potential, pace, tricks and talent to showcase this summer. Now it’s up to him to do that and add that end-product to his game on the big stage in front of huge crowds.