Manchester City goalkeeper completes season-long loan to National League North club

Buxton Football Club have confirmed the signing of Manchester City’s True Grant on a season-long loan from the Premier League champions.

The 18-year-old first joined Manchester City’s Academy system in 2018, having previously played in Derby County’s youth ranks and been brought up under the guidance of his former professional footballing father, Lee Grant.

Having progressed through to City’s Under-18s squad and featured 13 times for Ben Wilkinson’s side en route to an under-18 Premier League national title for a record third successive campaign, Grant became a regular for the Elite Development Squad and Under-19s.

Given Manchester City’s tendency to employ and develop goalkeepers with ball-playing capabilities, Grant is comfortable with the ball at his feet and distributing passes out to defensive options.

And it is those early signs of real promise within the game that has now seen True Grant take his first steps in senior men’s football for the forthcoming season, albeit outside of the top-four tiers in the English football pyramid.

As confirmed by National League North side Buxton F.C. this week, True Grant will spend the forthcoming 2024/25 season on loan from Manchester City, in what will be his first taste of senior men’s football.

Grant took on plenty of first-team experiences with Manchester City last season, largely through the unfortunate injuries sustained by number one choice and Brazil international Ederson on various occasions.

The final day of the Premier League season saw Grant take a place within City’s matchday squad on an afternoon that would see the club go on to win their fourth successive Premier League title, too.

Places in the matchday squad would also come about in a home clash against Aston Villa during the second-half of last season, as well as in the Emirates FA Cup meeting with Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

Buxton confirmed as part of a wider statement on club signings, “True Grant who joins us from Manchester City on a season loan.

“True joined City from Derby County and has represented City in the Under18’s and last season was a regular in the Premier League 2 side, the UEFA Youth League team and was part of the first team squad that played Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League.

“He was also the goalkeeper when City lifted the FA Youth Cup last May and is the son of former Derby ‘keeper Lee Grant.”