Revealed: Man City teenager leaves the Etihad to join Brentford permanently

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Credit: Imago Tue 12 May 2026 9:19, UK Rafael Roca has waved goodbye to his time in the Manchester City academy ahead of his move to Brentford.After 12 years with the Premier League giants, the midfield talent is set to switch from the Etihad Stadium to the Gtech Community Stadium, bringing an end to his days with the Citizens.The Bees invited the 15-year-old gem to trial with their Under-16s at the Algarve Elite Cup in March, clearly impressing, having been offered a scholarship down in West London.Keith Andrews now has yet another young talent to keep an eye on, though Pep Guardiola and his staff might be wondering what could have been after bringing through so many diamonds over the years. 🔄 Man City Transfer Update 🔄 Breaking news on signings, elite targets, and contract news from the City Football Group boardroom. VISIT THE TRANSFER HUBRafael Roca bids farewell to Manchester City after 12 yearsRoca clearly made a lot of friends at City, but with a new challenge on the horizon, he is bound to be a name that crops up in the future, given the success of youngsters at Brentford.

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Taking to Instagram (11 May), Roca wrote: “Finally! After 12 years at Man City, it is now my time to leave.

Thanks to all my teammates and most of the members of staff for helping me to be the player and person I am today.“I’ve made lots of memories and had great experiences, but it is now my time to move on to a new challenge…”Caelan Cadamarteri, brother of Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri, wrote, “All the best, Roc,” while future teammate Ricci Owen responded with applauding emojis.Which youngsters are up-and-coming at Brentford?Roca is set to join a plethora of talented gems at the Bees’ disposal, and Andrews has been no stranger to trusting the younger generation amid a huge push for European football this season.At just 21 years of age, Michael Kayode is already attracting Premier League interest, less than a year on from his permanent move from Fiorentina, while the entire forward line is under 25 years of age.While few have been given major senior chances just yet, Kaye Furo, 19, Romelle Donovan, 19, and Luka Bentt, 18, are all examples of players who could soon make the step up at the Gtech.Roca should have a lot of hope about making a forward step in his career away from the Etihad, but it is just a shame for Man City fans that he could be seen as one who got away in the future. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Man City Insider Access Get the full story from the Etihad Stadium and CFA with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the Etihad Campus.