Manchester City have placed a £35 million price tag on England Under-21 captain James McAtee, according to The Telegraph.
Nottingham Forest, West Ham Lead Race for £35m-Rated McAtee
That valuation marks a steep increase from the £20–25 million suitors like Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Borussia Dortmund, and Eintracht Frankfurt had anticipated.
McAtee, who enters the final year of his contract at City, has clearly impressed during his rising career earning 18 Premier League appearances and earning plaudits for a triple-goal performance against Salford City in the FA Cup.
He also captained England’s U21s to a European Championship title this summer.
Who could buy James McAtee from Man City?
Nottingham Forest are believed to be the most likely Premier League suitors and have submitted a strong pitch.
West Ham express interest as they look to reinforce.
Eintracht Frankfurt recently hosted McAtee for a tour of their facilities, though their budget is tight pending sales like Hugo Ekitike.
Borussia Dortmund and other Bundesliga clubs are also in the mix.
City view £35 million as fair value, benchmarking the sum against previous exits like Cole Palmer’s £42.5 million move to Chelsea in 2023.
With just a year remaining on McAtee’s contract, City face pressure to maximize the fee to stay compliant with Premier League profitability rules.
Clubs like Nottingham Forest and West Ham may bridge the gap in valuation in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, McAtee remains open to a move abroad, having shown curiosity in the Bundesliga and keen to secure regular first-team football.
Manchester City hope to secure a deal for McAtee soon, turning their academy gem into smart business and allowing the 22-year-old to flourish with regular minutes elsewhere.
