Nico O’Reilly, born on 21 March 2005, is an English footballer who plays as a left-back or midfielder for Manchester City and the England national team. A product of City’s academy, he made his senior debut in 2024 and showed prodigious talent. In his second season, he won his first major trophy, scoring a brace in the 2026 EFL Cup final. After representing England at the youth level, he made his senior debut in 2025.
Nico O’Reilly Early Career: From Academy to Spotlight
Nico O’Reilly joined Manchester City’s academy at just eight years old. Nico O’Reilly steadily improved, moving to the under-23 team in 2021–22 and signing his first professional contract in July 2022. He captained the under-18 side and gained attention after scoring a spectacular scorpion kick and a long-range chip in 2023. Training with the first team showed his remarkable dedication and growing football intelligence.
Nico O’Reilly International Journey with England Teams
Nico began his England journey with the under-16 team, scoring against Northern Ireland in 2021. Nico O’Reilly later played for the U17, U18, and U20 sides, showing consistent progress at every level. He made his U20 debut against Turkey in September 2024 and earned an under-21 call-up in 2025. After impressing coaches, he received his first senior England call-up in October 2025 and made his debut in a 2–0 win over Serbia, marking a significant milestone.
Nico O’Reilly: A Short but Significant Career
| Club | Season | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | EFL Cup Apps | EFL Cup Goals | Europe Apps | Europe Goals | Other Apps | Other Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 2024–25 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 5 |
| Manchester City | 2025–26 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 45 | 10 |
| Career Total | — | 37 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 15 |
Nico O’Reilly Honours: First Trophies with Manchester City
He achieved important success early in his career with Manchester City. Nico O’Reilly won his first major trophy when the club lifted the EFL Cup in the 2025–26 season, where he scored twice in the final. He also won the FA Community Shield in 2024 and finished as an FA Cup runner-up in 2024–25. These achievements show his promising and remarkable rise as a young footballer, gaining success at the highest level.
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