# Charlie Gray (footballer)
**Charlie George Gray** (born 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Wigan Athletic, on a season-long loan from Manchester City, for the 2026/27 season[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) • [2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846). Born in Manchester, he joined Manchester City's Academy at Under-9 level and spent more than a decade in the club's youth system before making his senior debut in December 2025[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Charlie George Gray, 2006, Manchester, England[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) |
| Position | Defensive midfielder, also capable in central midfield[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) |
| Youth career | Manchester City from Under-9s (2014) through the Under-18s and EDS[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray) • [1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) |
| Senior debut | Substitute in City's 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Brentford at the Etihad, December 2025[4](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-manchester-citys-charlie-gray-63901602) |
| Youth honors | FA Youth Cup 2023/24, U18 Premier League 2022/23, Premier League 2 2024/25[5](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1451118/charlie-gray) |
| 2026/27 | Season-long loan at League One side Wigan Athletic under Gary Caldwell[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846) |
| International | Former England U20 international, 0 caps[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) |
## Youth career at Manchester City
Gray signed for Manchester City at Under-9s level and progressed through the club's age groups to become a scholar[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray). Described by the club as a calming, ball-playing presence in central midfield with an excellent range of passing, he first featured at Under-18s level in 2022/23, making 12 appearances, followed by 19 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray).
The 2023/24 season was his breakout year with the Under-18s. He played a key role in City winning the Under-18 Premier League North title, making 15 league appearances, and he played every minute of the 4-0 [FA Youth Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-youth-cup) final victory over Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium on 10 May 2024[4](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-manchester-citys-charlie-gray-63901602) • [6](https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/may/10/fa-youth-cup-final-manchester-city-leeds-united-match-report-20241005).
## EDS and senior debut
Gray moved up to the Elite Development Squad (EDS) for 2024/25 and was an instrumental player as City's EDS won the Premier League 2 title. As a holding midfielder he played 20 league games and seven of eight [UEFA Youth League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-youth-league) games, impressing with his scanning, positioning and link-up play; his form earned the EDS Players' Player of the [Season](https://www.edgepedia.org/season-sports) award[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray) • [2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846).
He remained with the EDS for 2025/26 and made 20 appearances across all competitions, including his senior debut for the club. He came on as a second-half substitute in City's 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over [Brentford](https://www.edgepedia.org/brentford) at the Etihad, becoming the fifth Academy debutant of 2025/26[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray) • [4](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-manchester-citys-charlie-gray-63901602). Another highlight was his free-kick goal in City's 4-0 UEFA Youth League triumph away at Real Madrid[3](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray). Although he made no Premier League appearance that season, he was named on the bench in the Champions League on multiple occasions[7](https://theanalyst.com/players/9068/charlie-gray) • [8](https://www.footballinsider247.com/manchester-city/transfers/sources-lazio-eye-swoop-for-charlie-gray-as-man-city-talks-ongoing).
## Loan to Wigan Athletic
In August 2026 Gray joined Wigan Athletic of League One on a season-long loan, his first spell away from Manchester City[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846) • [9](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/c0km07e5dd5o). He continues his development under Wigan head coach Gary Caldwell in the third tier of English football[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846).
By mid-October 2026 he had made five League One appearances, all starts, playing 378 minutes without scoring, and had been shown two yellow cards[10](https://theanalyst.com/players/9068/charlie-gray/career). His most recent league appearance was a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss at [Stevenage](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevenage) on 10 October[7](https://theanalyst.com/players/9068/charlie-gray).
## Playing style
Gray is a hard-working holding midfielder who can also play in a more box-to-box role. His scanning, ability to read play, and tackling and interception work are cited as his standout attributes, all developed since he joined the Academy at Under-9s[4](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-manchester-citys-charlie-gray-63901602). Transfermarkt lists defensive midfield as his main position with central midfield as a secondary one, and he is right-footed[1](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103) • [5](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1451118/charlie-gray).
## Honours
Per FotMob, Gray has won five titles: the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup) and [EFL Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-cup) (both 2025/26) with Manchester City, the Premier League 2 (2024/25) with Manchester City U21, and the U18 Premier League (2022/23) and FA Youth Cup (2023/24) with Manchester City U18[5](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1451118/charlie-gray).
## References
1. [Charlie Gray - Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/charlie-gray/profil/spieler/1033103)
2. [Gray joins Wigan on loan, Manchester City F.C.](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/charlie-gray-wigan-athletic-loan-63922846)
3. [Charlie Gray - Profile, Manchester City F.C.](https://www.mancity.com/players/charlie-gray)
4. [Who is City's Charlie Gray?, Manchester City F.C.](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/who-is-manchester-citys-charlie-gray-63901602)
5. [Charlie Gray - stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/players/1451118/charlie-gray)
6. [FA Youth Cup Final report: Manchester City 4-0 Leeds United, The FA](https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/may/10/fa-youth-cup-final-manchester-city-leeds-united-match-report-20241005)
7. [Charlie Gray, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/9068/charlie-gray)
8. [Sources: Lazio eye swoop for Charlie Gray, Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/manchester-city/transfers/sources-lazio-eye-swoop-for-charlie-gray-as-man-city-talks-ongoing)
9. [Wigan sign midfielders Walsh and Gray on loan, BBC Sport](https://bbc.com.im/sport/football/articles/c0km07e5dd5o)
10. [Charlie Gray Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/9068/charlie-gray/career)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2015–present › Central and defensive midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license