Manchester City is set to debut Max Alleyne, a 20-year-old defender, in the Premier League against Brighton. Alleyne, an England Under-21 international, was recalled from a season-long loan at Watford to bolster City's injury-hit defense. Known as a "cultured and ball-playing" centre-back, Alleyne joined City from Southampton's academy in 2021 for a reported £1.5m fee.

Alleyne's path to the first team has been swift. He helped City's elite development squad win the Premier League 2 title last season and was crowned the club's under-21 player of the year. His family has a strong sporting pedigree, with his father, Mark Alleyne, being a former England cricket all-rounder and current Gloucestershire coach.

Pep Guardiola, City's manager, praised Alleyne's development, saying