Manchester City goalkeeper joins National League North club on loan for one season

Buxton Football Club have confirmed the signing of True Grant from Manchester City 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 for Derby County’s youth team and growing up under the tutelage of his father, a former professional footballer, Lee Grant.

After making it into City’s Under-18 team and playing 13 times for Ben Wilkinson’s side en route to a record third consecutive Under-18 Premier League title, Grant became a regular in the Elite Development Squad and Under-19s.

As Manchester City tends to use and develop goalkeepers with good ball-playing skills, Grant is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can play passes to defenders.

And these early signs of promising football performance have now helped True Grant take his first steps in senior international football next season, albeit outside the top four divisions of the English football pyramid.

Grant gained a wealth of experience in Manchester City’s first team last season, largely due to the unfortunate injuries sustained by Brazilian international and regular Ederson on several occasions.

On the final day of the Premier League season, Grant was called up to City’s squad and the club also won their fourth consecutive Premier League title that afternoon.

Matchday squad places were also up for grabs at a home game against Aston Villa in the second half of last season and at the Emirates FA Cup match against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

Buxton confirmed in a wider statement on the club’s new signings: “True Grant joins us on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

“True joined City from Derby County and represented City at Under-18 level. Last season he was a regular in Premier League 2, the UEFA Youth League team and was part of the first-team squad that played against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League.

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