**Manchester City have sanctioned a permanent exit for one of their academy forwards, with Will Dickson completing a move into the EFL after a productive loan spell.**
The 21-year-old has joined Chesterfield on a full-time basis, bringing an end to his five-year association with City after progressing through the club’s elite youth pathway.
Dickson arrived at the Etihad Campus in 2021, signing scholarship terms before stepping up into the Elite Development Squad ahead of the 2022–23 campaign. During his time in City’s U18s and EDS setup, the forward built a strong scoring record, finding the net 37 times across 87 appearances at youth level. That return earned him a professional contract in July 2023 and underlined his standing as one of the more productive attacking prospects within the academy system.
Injuries limited Dickson’s opportunities to push on towards senior involvement, although he was included in a first-team matchday squad for a [UEFA Champions League](https://thedeck.news/uefa-champions-league-matchday-1-preview/) fixture against Slovan Bratislava in 2024, a moment that reflected the regard in which he was held internally. City’s development model has long prioritised tailored pathways, and loan spells are a key part of that process.
A short-term move to Motherwell followed, offering senior exposure in the Scottish Premiership, before a season-long loan to Chesterfield provided a more stable platform. It was during that spell in League Two that Dickson began to find rhythm and confidence, alternating between a central striking role and a deeper attacking midfield position.
His performances in the East Midlands convinced Chesterfield to act decisively. The Spireites have moved to secure Dickson permanently, tying him down until the summer of 2027. He made 18 appearances during the loan spell, scoring once and registering an assist, with his standout moment coming in a 4-1 home win over Newport County, where he carried the ball from deep before finishing confidently.
From a Manchester City perspective, the move fits a familiar pattern. Academy graduates who do not immediately break into Pep Guardiola’s senior plans are often encouraged to pursue permanent opportunities elsewhere, allowing them to build first-team careers while City retain pride in their development. Another example is Lewis Fiorini, who experienced a handful of loans, while Emilio Lawrence is a player also currently heading out on loan.
> “He’s had a good base coming through Manchester City. We feel he’s got good scope in him to go even better,” assistant Gary Roberts [told the club website.](https://chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/dickson-signed-on-permanent-basis?fbclid=IwY2xjawPXMZ1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0NEJqem5SYm1NZHVDbkFXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvOf4GdujfUQ_fvzrOh5k56eBxxeBqpbviLBKwNGOTOq8Iz6KE1DpOfwR4Yl_aem_bwe2CuX1AZkykUf8AfcTtw)
As Dickson begins the next phase of his career in League Two, Manchester City will view his progress as a success story of their youth system, even if it ultimately unfolds away from the Etihad Stadium.