Joel Ndala: England-DR Congo winger joins Cercle Brugge from Man City U21 in €900k deal

England-DR Congo winger Joel Ndala has joined Belgian side Cercle Brugge from Manchester City U21 in a permanent transfer worth €900,000. The 20-year-old left winger moves to the Jupiler Pro League after coming through Manchester City’s academy structure and spending the last two seasons gaining senior experience on loan.

Ndala, born in Manchester and comfortable cutting in from the left on his right foot, leaves City’s under-21s having accumulated game time across England and the Netherlands. He featured in the Championship for Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday and in the Dutch second tier with PSV U21, as well as in Premier League 2 and youth European competition for City.

At youth level he built a strong pedigree, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists in 31 U18 Premier League appearances, and adding further goals in the UEFA Youth League, FA Youth Cup and EFL Trophy. That output underpinned a rapid rise through City’s age groups from the under-18s to the under-21 squad.

Ndala’s spell at the Etihad academy was marked by team success. He won the U21 Premier League title twice and lifted the English U18 league trophy in consecutive seasons, while also being part of the Manchester City side that clinched the FA Youth Cup.

The 1.78m attacker now makes his first permanent move abroad, with Cercle Brugge securing a player valued at €3m as he begins the next stage of his career in Belgium’s top flight.