U18 Striker Lamb Nominated for Premier League POTS , Manchester City 2026

Key Points

• Manchester City 16-year-old striker Teddie Lamb nominated for inaugural U18s Premier League Player of the Season (POTS) award
• Lamb is one of eight nominees for the accolade, competing against players from Chelsea and other clubs
• Other nominees include Mathis Eboué and Chizaram Ezenwanta (both Chelsea), Joseph Junior, and five other U18 players
• Lamb has scored 17 goals in the 2025/2026 Premier League U18 season according to FotMob statistics
• The striker recorded 8 goals in 7 Under-18 Premier League games and 10 goals in 11 appearances overall
• Lamb scored in Manchester City’s 4-1 FA Youth Cup semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers at Joie Stadium
• Manchester City became the first team to reach the 2025-26 FA Youth Cup Final after beating Blackburn
• Lamb scored early goal in FA Youth Cup semi-final with controlled strike into bottom corner
• Teammates Reigan Heskey and Oliver Tevenan also scored in the FA Youth Cup semi-final
• Head coach Paul Butler led City to the FA Youth Cup Final
• Lamb is an England U17 forward
• Lamb scored his 25th goal of the season according to social media reports
• Lamb will face either Manchester United or Crystal Palace in the FA Youth Cup Final
• The award winner will be determined through voting process involving fans and experts
• Lamb plays as a midfielder/striker for Manchester City U18, born 2 July 2009

Manchester City (Manchester Mirror)May 08, 2026-Manchester City Academy’s 16-year-old striker Teddie Lamb has been nominated for the inaugural U18s Premier League Player of the Season award, marking a significant milestone for the club’s youth development programme. Lamb is one of eight nominees competing for the prestigious accolade, with the winner to be announced after a voting process combining fan votes and expert panel decisions.

Who Is Teddie Lamb and What Are His Statistics This Season?

As reported by Manchester City’s official website, Teddie Lamb is a 16-year-old England U17 forward born on 2 July 2009 who plays for Manchester City U18. According to FotMob statistics, Lamb has recorded 17 goals in the 2025/2026 Premier League U18 season. The striker has demonstrated remarkable goal-scoring form throughout the campaign, recording eight goals in seven Under-18 Premier League games and a remarkable 10 goals in 11 appearances overall, as reported by Ecological SDG.

Social media reports from Manchester City Academy indicate that Lamb scored his 25th goal of the season, further highlighting his prolific scoring record across all competitions. According to Football Manager 2026 data, Lamb is contracted to Manchester City until 30 June 2027, earning £305 per week with a market value of £344,000. His preferred foot is left, and his best IP role is Poacher while his best OOP role is In Possession.

Which Players Are Nominated Alongside Teddie Lamb for the Award?

The eight nominees for the inaugural U18s Premier League Player of the Season include Lamb alongside Mathis Eboué and Chizaram Ezenwanta (both from Chelsea), Joseph Junior, and five other standout U18 players from across the Premier League. The competition represents the highest level of youth football recognition in English football, with nominees selected based on their performances throughout the 2025-26 season.

Chelsea has two representatives on the shortlist, demonstrating the strength of their academy programme alongside Manchester City’s standout performer. The full list of eight nominees showcases the depth of talent emerging from Premier League academies this season.

How Did Manchester City Reach the FA Youth Cup Final?

As reported by The FA, Manchester City became the first team to book their place in the FA Youth Cup Final after a commanding 4-1 home win against Blackburn Rovers at Joie Stadium. Teddie Lamb, Reigan Heskey, and Oliver Tevenan were all on the scoresheet before the 70th minute to give the home side one foot in the final, according to The FA’s match report.

Lamb opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match with a controlled strike into the bottom corner, putting the Blues ahead at Joie Stadium. Blackburn initially took the lead through Valentin Joseph, who became the competition’s record FA Youth Cup goalscorer, but City responded with four unanswered goals.

Reigan Heskey scored twice from the penalty spot, including one after Harry Holt saved the first penalty, while Oliver Tevenan completed the scoring with a volley. The victory means Manchester City will face either Manchester United or Crystal Palace in the 2025-26 FA Youth Cup Final.

Manchester City’s starting lineup included Max Hudson, Dante Headley, Leke Drake, Kaden Braithwaite (captain), Oliver Tevenan, Harrison Miles, Ryan McAidoo, Floyd Samba, Teddie Lamb, Tyrone Samba, and Reigan Heskey. Head coach Paul Butler oversaw the victory that secured City’s place in the final.

What Is the Inaugural U18s Premier League Player of the Season Award?

The U18s Premier League Player of the Season (POTS) is an annual award presented to the best player in the Under-18 Premier League. This is the inaugural year for this specific U18 category award, representing a new recognition tier for youth football excellence.

The voting process involves both fans and football experts, with supporters able to cast votes through the Premier League website. The votes from fans are combined with those from a panel of football experts to determine the winner, similar to other Premier League seasonal awards.

The winner will be announced at a formal ceremony, marking the first time this particular U18 accolade has been awarded.

Why Is This Nomination Significant for Manchester City’s Academy?

As reported by Ecological SDG, Lamb has been described as “a force to be reckoned with” and “leaving even the legendary Erling Haaland in awe” with his goal-scoring extravaganza. The nomination represents recognition of Manchester City’s EDS & Academy programme’s continued success in developing young talent.

Lamb’s progression through City’s academy system demonstrates the club’s investment in youth development. His performance this season has positioned him as one of England’s most promising young strikers, with the England U17 national team taking notice.

The fact that a Manchester City player leads the nomination list alongside Chelsea’s representatives shows the competitive nature of Premier League youth football.

What Happens Next in the FA Youth Cup Competition?

Manchester City will face either Manchester United or Crystal Palace in the 2025-26 FA Youth Cup Final, as confirmed by The FA’s match report. The final represents the culmination of City’s impressive cup run, which included heavy victories over Blackburn Rovers in both Premier League North encounters this season.

As reported by The FA, City had “ironed out any mistakes that were made in the first half” in their semi-final, testing Blackburn goalkeeper Harry Holt multiple times before Tevenan’s volley sealed the 4-1 victory.

Head coach Paul Butler’s young boys in blue have now reached the final, continuing City’s strong tradition in youth competition.

Background: Development of Manchester City Academy and Teddie Lamb’s Rise

Manchester City’s Academy programme has been recognised as one of England’s premier youth development systems, producing players who regularly progress to first-team football. Teddie Lamb’s nomination for the inaugural U18s Player of the Season award demonstrates the continued strength of this pipeline.

Lamb joined Manchester City’s academy system and progressed through the age groups to reach the U18 team at age 16. His development under head coach Paul Butler has been particularly notable, with his goal-scoring record attracting attention from across English football.

The 2025-26 season has been exceptional for City’s U18s, who stayed top of the Under-18 Premier League North table after a 5-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Lamb scoring one of the late strikes. Lamb also scored a consolation goal in stoppage time during City’s 3-1 defeat to Derby County in the U18s Premier League North, demonstrating his commitment even in challenging matches.

The academy’s investment in players like Lamb, with weekly wages of £305 and contract security until 2027, reflects Manchester City’s long-term approach to youth development.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Young Football Players Across the UK

This nomination can significantly affect young football players across the UK by providing a clear benchmark for youth excellence. Teenage strikers and academy players will see Lamb’s achievement as evidence that exceptional performance at U18 level can attract national recognition through formal awards.

For youth football communities nationwide, this development demonstrates that players from academies can achieve Premier League-wide recognition, potentially inspiring local clubs to invest more heavily in their youth programmes. Young players will see that reaching the FA Youth Cup Final and accumulating 17+ goals in a season can result in nomination for prestigious awards.

The award’s voting system, which combines fan votes with expert panels, means young players now have a pathway to recognition that includes public engagement. This could encourage more young players to build their public profiles and engage with fans through social media.

For aspiring strikers specifically, Lamb’s profile as a 16-year-old England U17 forward with 25 goals demonstrates that international youth recognition and domestic league success can occur simultaneously. Academy directors across the UK may reassess their development programmes to focus more on goal-scoring metrics for forward players.

The market value of £344,000 and contract security until 2027 for a 16-year-old shows young players that professional contracts and financial security can come at an earlier age than in previous generations. This may influence how young players and their families approach career decisions and academy selections.

However, this development also raises expectations for youth players. The competitive nature of the eight-nominee shortlist, including two Chelsea players, shows that exceptional-level excellence is now required for recognition. Young players should understand that consistency across an entire season, not just isolated performances, is necessary for such honours.