Former Lioness Izzy Christiansen will be the head coach of Manchester City’s new under-21 side, branded as City Next Gen.
It follows Hannah Dingley‘s appointment as girls’ head of academy earlier this year.
The side will play their first fixture in the Professional Game Academy Under-21 Women’s League later this week.
“We want to play good football but we also want to have great people at our football club as well, and I think that’s what pulled me back in – as soon as I started the role with the under-16s last year, I knew straight away my feet felt comfortable at the CFA,” said Christiansen, who returned to City in 2024 to assist with the junior side.
She added: “We want to create an environment where everybody comes and leaves a better person and player.”
‘A clear pathway for players to progress’
Manchester City Women’s director of football Therese Sjogran said in a statement: “The PGA youth pathway gives us an invaluable opportunity to continue the great work that has already seen several of our girls’ academy players come through and have the chance to play first-team football.
“Having our Next Gen team compete in the PGA Under-21 Women’s League will see us compete against some of the best teams, further strengthen our links in the region and create a sustainable future for Manchester City Women.”
Dingley added: “We are building a world-class youth development programme here at City.
“We have signed a talented group of under-21 players who are getting a first-class coaching programme in the phenomenal facilities at City Football Academy. We are also really proud that the players get a best-in-class education programme alongside their football with girls studying a range of different A Level and BTEC courses.
“But what really sets this programme apart is the close relationship between the Next Gen and first team that gives a clear pathway for players to progress into the first team.
“We are looking forward to starting our PGA U21 League season and testing ourselves against teams from across the country.”
The first phase of the competition is split into northern and southern sections, with City in the northern division, which consists of ten teams, including Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Birmingham City. Every side in the division will play each other once between August and December, and then the top four sides in both the northern and southern sections will be placed into national Group 1, with everyone else in national Group 2. Then all the teams in each group will play each other twice to determine who finishes top of each division.
