Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS Man City transfer after clear Pep Guardiola demand

Tom Weber
Tom Weber
  • Updated: 18 Aug 2025 15:19 BST
  • 5 min read
Pep Guardiola, Man City
© IMAGO

Manchester City youngster Sverre Nypan will spend the season on loan at Middlesbrough, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

Article continues under the video

The Norwegian wonderkid arrived at the Etihad earlier this summer after mulling over his next move for months. Nypan was initially supposed to leave boyhood club Rosenborg in January, but despite interest from Arsenal, he decided against moving in the winter.

Aston Villa subsequently appeared to have a deal in place for Nypan, but their failure to qualify for the Champions League allowed Man City to swoop in and secure his signature.

Current ETV
Player image Sverre Nypan
Sverre Nypan

M (C)

Man City logo

Man City

Sverre Nypan
Sverre Nypan

M (C)

Man City

Man City

€22.7M

ETV Range

€20.5M - €25M

From the moment he signed, it was clear that the 18-year-old was unlikely to be part of Man City's Premier League side for this season, with the club deciding that it would be better to send him out on loan.

There was an expectation that he would be sent to City Football Group affiliate Girona, as they were among the clubs keen on him in January, but the Cityzens have ultimately opted to keep him in England so as not to use up an international loan spot.

Nypan deal confirmed as Pep demands exits

According to Fabrizio Romano, Man City and Championship side Middlesbrough have now formally sealed a deal for Nypan to head to the Northeast on loan for the season.

It comes after Pep Guardiola reiterated that he wants to have a smaller squad, with the Spanish tactician claiming that having too many players 'isn't healthy.'

Sverre Nypan
© IMAGO - Sverre Nypan

“Too many people," Guardiola said after his side beat Wolves 4-0. "It’s not about Eddy [Ederson], today [there] was [no] Rodri, Phil [Foden], [Mateo] Kovacic, Savinho and Josko [Gvardiol].

"On the bench, we had Nathan [Ake] and Gündo [Ilkay Gündogan]. I like a deep squad to compete in all competitions, but I don’t want to leave players at home. It’s not healthy. You cannot create a good vibe or atmosphere to compete.

“The club has known [about] it since last season, but the situation is what it is. In the next two weeks, people will talk with players and agents to find a solution. We have to reduce the squad because it will be difficult to sustain the vibe of the team.”

Man City recently sold James McAtee to Nottingham Forest and loaned Jack Grealish to Everton. Ederson is currently pushing for a move to Galatasaray, Savinho is in talks with Tottenham and Rico Lewis has been the subject of interest from Forest, although he reportedly wants to stay.

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