Sheffield Wednesday are looking at the possibility of signing defender Stephen Mfuni on loan from Manchester City.
With just a few days of the January transfer window remaining, Sheffield Wednesday have joined the race to try and sign highly-rated Manchester City defender Stephen Mfuni.
The Star understands Wednesday are keen to try and wrap up a loan deal for Mfuni ahead of the window closing at 7pm next Monday evening, but they do face competition from elsewhere for his signature.
With just a handful of days to go until the mid-season window closes, it is currently hard to predict exactly what condition Wednesday’s squad will be in when the bell sounds amid the possibility of a crop of departures.
Club legend and captain Barry Bannan is on the cusp of sealing a move to Millwall while the likes of Yan Valery, Svante Ingelsson and Bailey Cadamarteri are also in with a chance of leaving Hillsborough.
Already working with a threadbare squad as it is, Owls manager Henrik Pedersen will be determined to bring in some fresh blood either via the loan market or the free agent market. Wednesday are understood to be in constant dialogue with the English Football League (EFL) over what they are permitted to do.
With Mfuni understood to be of interest to Wednesday, The Star has put together a profile about the City youngster ahead of a possible move to S6:
Who is Stephen Mfuni?
Mfuni is a 17-year-old defender, capable of playing at both centre-back and left. He joined City at a young age and has climbed the rungs of their academy system over the last few years.
The Wigan-born defender is a regular for City’s Elite Development Squad (Under-21s), establishing himself as a regular in the Premier League 2 this season.
What has he done so far?
Joining City at Under-9s level, Mfuni, who is predominantly a centre-back, has made sharp progress in the last few years, first becoming a regular for City’s U18s during the 2023/24 campaign, making his debut at the age of just 15.
Also capable of playing at left-back, Mfuni also featured three times for City’s U21s by the end of the 2023/24 season, featuring in the Premier League 2, highlighting just how highly City rate him. Following a successful 2023/24 campaign at youth level, the teenager was included in City’s first-team squad for their pre-season tour in the summer of 2024.
He earned one appearance on the aforementioned pre-season tour, coming on as a late substitute in a 4-2 win over Chelsea in Ohio. Fellow City youngster Jaden Heskey, who joined Wednesday on loan earlier this month, was also included in the squad that travelled to the United States that summer.
Stephen Mfuni is highly-rated by Manchester City.placeholder image
Stephen Mfuni is highly-rated by Manchester City. | AFP via Getty Images
Although he was given the opportunity to try and impress City boss Pep Guardiola during the 2024 pre-season campaign, he spent last season flittering between the U21s and the U18s, continuing to store more experience under his belt. He also started all three of England’s U19s matches at last summer’s European Championship.
Mfuni has been a regular for the U21s so far this season, making nine appearances in the Premier League 2 alone. He has also donned the captain’s armband on one occasion and chipped in with one goal.
Turning 18 in just over a fortnight’s time, the youngster, in addition to playing for the U21s, has also frequently been in and around the first-team squad, making the bench in the Premier League on five occasions and twice in the Champions League. He was given his senior debut by Guardiola when City thrashed League Two side Exeter City in the FA Cup third round earlier this month, coming off the bench at half-time to replace Nathan Aké.
Stephen Mfuni made his senior debut for Manchester City earlier this month.placeholder image
Stephen Mfuni made his senior debut for Manchester City earlier this month. | Getty Images
Described as an ‘excellent left-footed defender who oozes class and personality both on and off the pitch’ on City’s club website, Mfuni has also featured for City’s U21s in the EFL Trophy this term, appearing in clashes with Oldham Athletic and Rotherham United.
What could he bring to Wednesday?
Amid the current state of Wednesday’s squad, the club will take any help it can get. They are in desperate need of bodies, and that desperation will only increase if a cluster of sales are made between now and next Monday evening.
Mfuni, just like City teammate Heskey, would provide a sense of versatility amid his ability to play at both centre-back and left-back. His profile as a left-footed player could be particularly useful after it was recently revealed Max Lowe faces an extended stint on the sidelines.
Wednesday have demonstrated this season they can get a tune out of their young players, likewise former loanee Harry Amass, meaning City may view that as a positive the Owls can offer when mulling over where to potentially send Mfuni to for the rest of the campaign.
Comfortable on the ball, the youngster has also developed a reputation for stepping into midfield, meaning he could assist with the Owls’ build-up play.
What has been said about him?
City U21s boss Ben Wilkinson, who was formerly U18s boss at the Etihad Stadium, said of Mfuni in 2023: “He’s an exceptional talent. We think very highly of him.
“For a player that’s 15-years-old, he has great maturity and a real high level of potential.”
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