Vincent Kompany has proved Man City's youth strategy is already paying off

As the confetti settled at the Etihad in April and Manchester City Under-23s had just lifted another Premier League 2 trophy, academy captain CJ Egan-Riley took time out from celebrating with his close friends and teammates to speak to reporters pitchside.

But midway through the conversation, someone caught Egan-Riley's eye, throwing him off his stride ever so slightly. It was James McAtee, who nudged into the conversation and said into a microphone: "Without CJ Egan-Riley, we don't win this title." Then he walked off with a grin, leaving Egan-Riley to pick up his sentence seamlessly like a seasoned professional.

Egan-Riley spoke eloquently after lifting his second PL2 title, pointing to the mentality of the academy to fight until the end in every game, and the importance of coming through the ranks with his 'best friends'. Now, though, he's left the City Football Academy to link up with Burnley, as Vincent Kompany turns to his former club to help him restore the Clarets to the top flight.

It's no surprise that Kompany has sought to strengthen his defence at Burnley following their relegation and the departures of influential centre-backs James Tarkowski and Ben Mee. Egan-Riley can play across the back line and also in midfield, and signs on a four-year deal, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis also joins on a season-long loan from City, after playing under Kompany at Anderlecht last season.

Kompany knows that City are bringing through the right kind of players in their academy, and it's a huge boost for buying clubs to bring in youngsters with experience of training alongside the world's best players. Even if most of those academy prospects won't make the grade in the end for City, they are getting the right education at the