Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis made his first appearance for the club’s first team in the Premier League Asia Trophy yesterday.
The 17-year-old played the full 90 minutes as the Citizens came out 4-1 winners against West Ham in China. After the game, the teenager shared his delight about making his debut on Twitter:
Unbelievable feeling making my first team debut for this unreal club!? That was for you grandad?? @ManCity pic.twitter.com/nNrYUhs0hq
— Taylor Bellis (@bellis_taylor) 17 July 2019
Supporters responded praising the centre-back’s performance:
You have just saved the club £70 million plus
— The Inkerman (@bluwes) 17 July 2019
The young lads played so well yesterday
— Raelll___ (@__Rael___) 18 July 2019
Outstanding performance, cool under pressure, you should be proud
— ?TonytheManc???? (@tonythemanc) 17 July 2019
Man City search the world over and find one from Edgely and one from Offerton ⚽️
— carl (@carl25744841) 18 July 2019
Harry maguire who? We got Bellis
— The one (@ronewa_sit) 18 July 2019
You played well. Hopefully you and E.Garcia can make the first team in 2-3 years time. But Taylor, bulk up a bit please.
— MCFCAsp-Aronic Acid (@Lucioronio) 17 July 2019
Was very impressed tonight. Looked at home next to @Laporte
— Adam Dunning (@dunning9) 17 July 2019
I’ve been a City fan since 1968. That’s one of the best debut performances I can remember. Well played son. Keep your head down and keep working hard.?
— aLUsh (@ajayusher) 18 July 2019
Top class ??
— RnR (@wildoation1) 18 July 2019
He’s unlikely to have done enough to stop City battling United for Harry Maguire, but the centre-half clearly has talent.
It may be going overboard to say that he could feature regularly in the first team next season but Harwood-Bellis does have the potential to be a key player in the long term if he continues his current development.
He has already captained England at Under 17 level and featured prominently in the Under 18s run to the FA Youth Cup final last campaign.
Harwood-Bellis may have not made his senior competitive debut for City yet, but he has experience of facing senior opposition. He played against Crewe, Rochdale and Sunderland as the Under 21s made it to quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy earlier this year.