James McAtee 'turns down' Bundesliga and Serie A in favour of England stay

Manchester City midfielder James McAtee has rejected interest from several top European clubs and is prioritising a move within England, according to reports from City Xtra, citing journalists @Amarjournalist_ and @BenRansomSky.

The 22-year-old, who has attracted attention from Bundesliga clubs Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen as well as teams in Serie A and Ligue 1, has made it clear that his preference is to continue developing domestically.

McAtee, who has been on the fringes of City's first team and impressed during loan spells at Sheffield United, is believed to be keen on staying closer to home and gaining consistent game time in the Premier League or Championship. His decision comes amid speculation about City’s midfield reshuffle and growing fan concern over the club’s handling of emerging talents.

With McAtee's desire to remain in England now public, attention turns to which clubs will move decisively to secure the highly-rated midfielder—and whether City will include a buy-back clause in any deal, as they have done with previous academy graduates.

As the summer transfer window heats up, McAtee’s next step will be one to watch closely.

📸 Christian Hofer - 2025 Getty Images