Nico O’Reilly is gaining recognition from Guardiola and Manchester City.
It was after 11:30 PM when Pep Guardiola finally took his seat in the media room at Santiago Bernabeu to share his insights on Manchester City’s 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 encounter. Clearly fatigued and annoyed, he anticipated inquiries regarding his team selection and was prepared to address them.
“How many times has Nico O’Reilly played left back this season? How many times?” he retorted to one journalist.
The inquiry that triggered this response was legitimate, considering Guardiola’s decision to shift O’Reilly from a central midfield role, where the young player had excelled in the weeks leading up to the match in the Spanish capital. Although Guardiola did not state it directly, the atmosphere suggested that he was implying that ideally, he would prefer to have two O’Reillys—one for defense and another for midfield.
Regardless, Guardiola was reiterating his awareness of the importance of the young talent from the northeast of Manchester.
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With City in need of goals for the second leg, Guardiola chose to keep O’Reilly on the bench in favor of more offensive players. However, with the season hanging in the balance over the next four matches following their Champions League exit—beginning with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal—O’Reilly is expected to return to the lineup, aiming to conclude the season with at least one trophy.
The more significant decision for Guardiola is determining whether O’Reilly is more effective in defense or midfield.
From academy graduate to one of City’s pivotal players, his ascent has been remarkable and could potentially lead to a spot in the England squad for the World Cup.
“I’m very pleased,” O’Reilly states when asked to reflect on the past year. “I’m happy with how things are progressing.” This response is characteristically modest, aligning with his reserved—sometimes shy—nature.
“Initially, during the first few matches, it felt a bit like, ‘this is new,'” he adds. “You transition from 200 spectators [at youth team matches] to thousands. It’s a significant change. As the games continue, you become more accustomed to it, gaining comfort and confidence, and it becomes manageable.”
O’Reilly’s performances have exceeded mere adequacy. He has already made 43 appearances across all competitions this season, and no player aged 20 or younger has logged more minutes in the Premier League.
O’Reilly made his full top-flight debut in April 2025. By May, he was starting in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, and in December, he started and scored against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu during the Champions League group stage.
Throughout this journey, he impressed Thomas Tuchel enough to earn his first full international call-up in October. It is conceivable that he could represent England as the first-choice left-back at the World Cup this summer, despite having played that position for the first time in his career last season.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” he recalls. “I think it was just one training session before the Salford game last season. Pep said, ‘right, you’re playing there tomorrow.’ Then I performed well, gradually, and I began to play there more frequently.
“This season, I started to return to midfield a bit. I was content with it. I didn’t mind it. I enjoyed it. It was a good challenge. It ultimately depends on where the manager prefers to utilize me, where they believe I am most effective. As long as I’m on the pitch, I’m satisfied.”
Adjusting to a new position is not the only obstacle O’Reilly has faced. Having been part of City’s setup since the age of 8, the club always had high expectations, but his journey to the first team was not particularly straightforward.
At the Under-16 level, growth-related pains in his knees and legs due to a rapid growth spurt hindered his development for over six months. Upon reaching the Under-18s, he was held back for a year instead of being promoted to the Under-23s, and an ankle injury that ultimately required surgery sidelined him for most of the 2023-24 season.
In January 2025, Chelsea expressed strong interest, but City rejected the approach due to Chelsea’s refusal to include a buy-back clause in the agreement. Since then, O’Reilly’s progress has led City to dismiss any offers for the time being. In September, club officials opted to grant O’Reilly a new five-year contract, securing his stay at the Etihad until 2030.
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“It was an incredible feeling when I was informed,” he said. “I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to sign it, and this season has been fantastic for me. I’ve played quite a bit. I’m eager for what lies ahead.”
In the official announcement on City’s website, O’Reilly expressed gratitude to his mother, Holli, for the “sacrifices” she made during his upbringing in Collyhurst. A true Manchester native, he has the city’s telephone code, 0161, tattooed on his arm.
“That’s where I grew up, Manchester, the area,” he states. “Yes, it’s me, really, like how I became who I am today. Growing up there, I truly enjoyed it. I used to go out and play football every day with my friends. It was a wonderful place to grow up.
“I recently moved away [from Collyhurst], but it was a fantastic place. I loved living there. I’m a bit further out now. I like it. I’m still with my family, which is nice. They are there to support me and keep me grounded. They attend every game and help me stay focused. They are enjoying this journey as well.
“I have a younger sister who comes to every game. She loves it; she’s a big City fan. She’s really into football now.”
A City supporter in his youth, O’Reilly never had the opportunity to visit Wembley to watch his team when he was younger. This weekend, O’Reilly will celebrate his 21st birthday on Saturday before being part of the City squad facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
“You know, having grown up watching City all my life, attending the games, witnessing them compete in these types of tournaments, winning finals and aspiring to be in that position, it’s incredibly special,” he remarked. “I didn’t have the chance to attend any finals when I was younger. But I watched them on television, and now to be participating in them and being involved is a significant achievement.”
