Divine Mukasa marked his senior competitive debut for Manchester City with a remarkable contribution, setting up Phil Foden’s opener in a 2-0 Carabao Cup third-round win over Huddersfield Town on Wednesday night.
The 18-year-old midfielder, born in England to a Ugandan father and Lithuanian mother, was handed a start as Pep Guardiola made nine changes to the side that drew with Arsenal.
Mukasa operated as a central forward, showing confidence from the outset with a blocked effort and a header saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
His standout moment arrived in the first half. Receiving a pass from Foden, Mukasa quickly returned the ball, allowing City’s No. 47 to drill home a precise low finish.
Later in the game, he played a part in the build-up that saw Savinho double the lead from a Foden assist in the 74th minute.
Mukasa completed the full 90 minutes, underlining Guardiola’s trust in his ability on a night when the manager looked to conserve his key players for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley.
Guardiola had earlier reiterated the importance of the competition, pointing to City’s four consecutive triumphs between 2017 and 2021, and Mukasa’s performance provided evidence of the depth in the club’s academy ranks.
The debut comes after a standout 2023-24 season in City’s Under-18 setup, where Mukasa scored 19 goals and provided 16 assists in 30 appearances following his switch from West Ham.
His rapid development has drawn comparisons to graduates Phil Foden and Rico Lewis, with his creativity and physical presence making him one of the club’s most promising prospects.
Mukasa has represented England at youth level but remains eligible for Uganda, where his father hails from. His rise has been closely followed by supporters eager to see him progress to the highest ranks.
City will face Swansea City next month in the competition, according to the Round Four draws held after the game, providing Mukasa another opportunity to shine.
