The future of Manchester City star James McAtee has yet to be resolved ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The midfielder enjoyed his best season at the Etihad Stadium last time around as the Englishman featured in 27 matches, scoring seven goals and accumulating a total of 936 minutes.
Although this is the most action the 22-year-old has seen in a sky blue shirt, it is not enough, and McAtee is expected to leave Man City this summer in search of regular playing time, as the midfielder is one of many stars who will have an eye on playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There are several clubs interested in McAtee, but one team may now be out of the picture due to their most recent transfer agreement.
James McAtee in action for Manchester City v West Ham.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a fee for Malik Tillman
McAtee is fresh off winning the U21 European Championship with England, and therefore, the midfielder is unlikely to be thinking about his future at this very moment in time.
In the build-up to the summer, it was reported that Bayer Leverkusen were interested in McAtee, and that the player was keen on a move to the Bundesliga club; however, that has just been dealt a big blow.
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According to Florian Plettenberg, Bayer Leverkusen’s move for PSV Eindhoven star Malik Tillman is considered a done deal as the German club are ready to pay the midfielder’s £30M (€35M) release clause, while everything on the player’s side has now been agreed.
🚨⚫️🔴 BREAKING | Malik #Tillman to Bayer 04 Leverkusen is considered a done deal!
Excl. detail: A full agreement has now been reached between Leverkusen and Eindhoven. Because Bayern have let the deadline for the buy-back option pass. Tillman will sign a contract until 2030.… pic.twitter.com/TX8HSumnOk
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 3, 2025
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The 23-year-old is set to replace Florian Wirtz at Leverkusen, and now that the Bundesliga side have signed the United States international, a move for McAtee is very unlikely.
The Man City star’s stance on wanting to move to Germany is unlikely to have changed, and there are still several other clubs keeping an eye on the player’s situation at the Etihad Stadium.
Other Bundesliga clubs are interested in James McAtee
Stuttgart are one club interested in signing McAtee ahead of the 25/26 campaign; however, the German club may struggle to land the 22-year-old due to their lack of European football.
The Man City star not only views a move to the Bundesliga as a chance to develop further, but also a chance to play regularly in the Champions League.
That is an advantage Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt have in the race for the midfielder, while RB Leipzig are in the same boat as Stuttgart, with all four German clubs ready to battle for the signature of the Man City star.
It remains to be seen which club makes an official move for McAtee over the coming weeks, as interest from England will also be a problem for the Bundesliga sides.