Manchester City are preparing to welcome three of Bahia’s most promising young talents this month, as the Brazilian club continues its development partnership with the City Football Group (CFG).
Defender Leônidas and forwards Daniel David and Lyan will touch down in Manchester on 29 November for a two-week training programme that runs through to 14 December, giving the trio first-hand exposure to life inside one of English football’s leading academy set-ups.
The visit, confirmed by Brazilian outlet A Tarde, forms part of an established exchange scheme between Bahia and City that has been running since the Brazilian side’s integration into CFG’s global network.
All three players arrive with senior international pedigree for their age groups already behind them.
Leônidas, a centre-back, was called up to Brazil’s Under-15s in 2025, the same call-up that first brought Daniel David into the national fold before the forward stepped up to the Under-16s in 2026.
Lyan, an attacking player, has represented Brazil at Under-17 level this year, having featured as back-up to Kauê Furquim during a recent South American Championship campaign.
Bahia’s academy chief hails development opportunity
Speaking about the trip, Bahia’s academy director Marcelo Teixeira made clear the trio are travelling for development purposes rather than any form of assessment or trial.
“This exchange is an important opportunity for the development of the three players,” he said.
“They’ll get to experience Manchester City’s academy routine up close, train in a different environment, experience a new culture and language, and return with experiences that contribute to their growth, both as people and as footballers.”
Teixeira added that the scheme reflects the broader value of the relationship with City’s parent group, noting: “It’s an opportunity that Bahia’s integration into the City Football Group offers our young players.”
The timing means Leônidas, Daniel David and Lyan will be training at the Etihad Campus during the early stages of Enzo Maresca’s tenure as City’s head coach, a period in which the Italian has been reshaping both the first-team approach and the pathways feeding into it.
While there is no suggestion the visit carries any bearing on first-team recruitment, academy exchanges of this kind often give City’s coaching staff an early look at emerging talent from across the CFG network.
Part of a well-worn pathway between Salvador and Manchester
This is far from the first time City have hosted young players from Bahia. Roger Gabriel trained with City, as well as CFG sister club Girona, back in 2023, while Ruan Pablo made a similar trip the following year.
More recently, Jonathan Marinho and Ruan Victor spent time working with City’s Under-18s earlier this year.
Leônidas, Daniel David and Lyan now follow that same well-trodden route, continuing a pipeline that has become a regular feature of Bahia’s academy calendar since the club’s takeover by City Football Group.
