Manchester City Close to Signing Norwegian Teenager Sverre Nypan
Manchester City are on the verge of signing Norwegian teenager Sverre Nypan, according to reports. The 18-year-old midfielder has been attracting attention from several top European clubs, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, but City have reportedly had a bid accepted for the youngster.
The news was first reported by Norway’s TV2 in August 2023, who claimed that scouts from Manchester United had watched Nypan. However, Rosenborg boss Alfred Johansson praised the youngster’s attitude, stating: "He focuses on enjoying football and training every day. It’s very impressive, and that’s how it should be, but not everyone would have been able to do it. That is strong of Sverre," as quoted by the BBC.
Nypan’s rise to prominence has been swift, with the teenager catching the eye of Europe’s big clubs in a short space of time. The BBC understands that Arsenal were interested in the teenager in January 2025 and again this summer, with Aston Villa another one of the sides heavily linked with him, before Pep Guardiola’s City had a bid accepted.
The transfer window reopens on Monday, and if the deal is completed, it would be a record sale for Rosenborg, beating the £8.5m they received when striker John Carew went to Valencia in 2001. City are currently in the United States, with matches in the Club World Cup against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June, Al Ain of United Arab Emirates on 23 June, and then Italian side Juventus on 26 June.
If Guardiola’s side make it to the knockout stage, there is a brief window, from 27 June to 3 July, where they can add two players to their squad list for the later stages of the tournament, so Nypan could make his City debut then. He would become the third Norwegian player at Etihad Stadium, joining up with striker Erling Haaland, 24, and attacking midfielder Oscar Bobb, 21.
Former Rosenborg player, Jan-Derek Korssund, believes that Nypan has the potential to reach the very top. "It’s a big step for him to go to the Premier League, so he’ll need time to adjust before becoming a starter," said Korssund, as reported by the BBC. "But I have no doubt City have secured one of the best upcoming midfielders in the world. He’s that kind of player we feel is going places. How people talk about him is similar to how Nusa, Odegaard and Haaland have been spoken about, both in the media and by the fans."
As the BBC previously reported, Nypan’s talent has drawn comparisons with other top Norwegian players, including Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa. With City reportedly set to complete the signing, fans will be eagerly anticipating the youngster’s debut and the impact he can make at the Etihad Stadium.
The signing of Nypan would also highlight Manchester City’s commitment to identifying and developing young talent. As the BBC has noted, City have a reputation for spotting and nurturing young players, and the capture of Nypan would be another example of this strategy in action.
