# Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
**Jahmai Simpson-Pusey** (born 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a center-back for [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) club 1. FC Köln. A product of Manchester City's academy, where he spent twelve years, he made six senior appearances under [Pep Guardiola](https://www.edgepedia.org/pep-guardiola) before moving to Germany via a loan at Celtic.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2005, Huddersfield, England; height 1.87 m; right-footed[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jahmai-simpson-pusey/profil/spieler/942497) |
| Position | Centre-back[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jahmai-simpson-pusey/profil/spieler/942497) |
| Youth career | Huddersfield Town to 2013, then Manchester City from age 8[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jahmai-simpson-pusey/profil/spieler/942497) |
| Senior debut | October 2024, second-half substitute in City's 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham Hotspur[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-63918503) |
| Manchester City first team | Six appearances under Pep Guardiola in 2024/25[3](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-permanently) |
| Honors | FA Youth Cup 2023/24 (captain); Premier League 2 title 2024/25 (captain); first defender named Premier League 2 Player of the Season[4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/) • [5](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/man-citys-jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-on-loan-63903285) |
| Current club | 1. FC Köln, permanent signing June 2026, contract to 30 June 2030[3](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-permanently) |
| International | Former England under-18 and under-20 international[6](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13405149/jahmai-simpson-pusey-celtic-sign-manchester-city-centre-back-on-season-long-loan) • [7](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/fc-loan-out-jahmai-simpson-pusey) |
## Early life and academy career
Simpson-Pusey was born in [Huddersfield](https://www.edgepedia.org/huddersfield), West Yorkshire, and began in Huddersfield Town's youth setup before joining Manchester City's academy at Under-9 level, at the age of eight.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jahmai-simpson-pusey/profil/spieler/942497) • [5](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/man-citys-jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-on-loan-63903285) He signed his scholarship in July 2022 and progressed from the Under-18s to the Elite Development Squad over the following two seasons.[8](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/jahmai-simpson-pusey-explainer-63865921)
**Youth honors.** In 2024 he captained City's Under-18s to the [FA Youth Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-youth-cup), won with a 4-0 final victory over Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium.[5](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/man-citys-jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-on-loan-63903285) He also won the under-18 Premier League twice (2021/22 and 2022/23) and, as captain, led the Under-21s to the Premier League 2 title in 2024/25, the competition's fourth consecutive triumph for City.[7](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/fc-loan-out-jahmai-simpson-pusey) • [4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/) His performances earned him the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award, making him the first defender ever to receive it.[4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/)
## Manchester City first team
After featuring for City against Celtic and [AC Milan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ac-milan) on the 2024 pre-season tour of the United States, Simpson-Pusey made his senior debut in October 2024, coming off the bench in a 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.[4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/) • [2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-63918503) Six days later, one day after his 19th birthday, he made his first start and Champions League debut against [Sporting CP](https://www.edgepedia.org/sporting-cp).[8](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/jahmai-simpson-pusey-explainer-63865921) In November 2024 he made his first Premier League appearance, starting away at Brighton & Hove Albion.[4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/)
He made six senior appearances in total for City in 2024/25, across the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, as injuries to senior defenders opened opportunities in Guardiola's squad.[3](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-permanently) • [6](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13405149/jahmai-simpson-pusey-celtic-sign-manchester-city-centre-back-on-season-long-loan)
## Loans to Celtic and 1. FC Köln
**Celtic (2025/26, first half).** Simpson-Pusey joined [Scottish Premiership](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premiership) champions Celtic on a season-long loan on 5 August 2025, becoming [Brendan Rodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/brendan-rodgers)' seventh summer signing and wearing the No. 4 shirt.[4](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/) • [6](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13405149/jahmai-simpson-pusey-celtic-sign-manchester-city-centre-back-on-season-long-loan) His playing time was limited: Opta records one league appearance, 64 minutes as a starter against [Kilmarnock](https://www.edgepedia.org/kilmarnock) in a 4-0 win in November 2025, under interim manager Martin O'Neill.[9](https://theanalyst.com/players/4140/jahmai-simpson-pusey/career) • [10](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/simpson-pusey-jahmai/) Manchester City ended the loan early in January 2026.[10](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/simpson-pusey-jahmai/)
**1. FC Köln (2026).** On 6 January 2026 he joined Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln on loan for the rest of 2025/26, with Köln's sporting director Thomas Kessler citing his ball-playing quality and experience at the highest level.[7](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/fc-loan-out-jahmai-simpson-pusey) He made 11 Bundesliga appearances in the second half of the season, helping Köln to a 14th-place finish.[2](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-63918503) In June 2026 Köln signed him permanently on a contract running to 2030; Simpson-Pusey said the playing time and trust the club had given him were the reason he wanted to stay.[3](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-permanently)
## Playing style
Simpson-Pusey is a tall, ball-playing center-back described by Manchester City as calm and graceful, strong in defense and sharp at initiating attacks with forward passing.[8](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/jahmai-simpson-pusey-explainer-63865921) Bundesliga.com's profile describes a commanding defender who blends progressive passing with defensive authority, a style likened to a young [John Stones](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-stones).[11](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-jahmai-simpson-pusey-cologne-man-city-defender-35426) A December 2024 scouting report rated his playing out of defense (8.7/10) and reading of the game (8.1/10) as his strongest tactical attributes, while flagging composure and decision-making under pressure as areas for development.[12](https://www.thescoutingapp.com/shared/en/WYODn2gotpeseZ5nGFBm79c26adcf0bc0fbff37ad56192e1ebdd0365)
## References
1. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jahmai-simpson-pusey/profil/spieler/942497)
2. [Simpson-Pusey makes permanent move to FC Koln, Manchester City FC](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-63918503)
3. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey joins permanently, 1. FC Köln](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-permanently)
4. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Celtic FC player profile](https://www.celticfc.com/players/jahmai-simpson-pusey/)
5. [Simpson-Pusey joins FC Koln on loan, Manchester City FC](https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/man-citys-jahmai-simpson-pusey-joins-fc-koln-on-loan-63903285)
6. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey: Celtic sign Manchester City centre-back on season-long loan, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13405149/jahmai-simpson-pusey-celtic-sign-manchester-city-centre-back-on-season-long-loan)
7. [FC loan out Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, 1. FC Köln](https://fc.de/en/news/all-news/fc-loan-out-jahmai-simpson-pusey)
8. [Who is City's Jahmai Simpson-Pusey?, Manchester City FC](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/jahmai-simpson-pusey-explainer-63865921)
9. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/4140/jahmai-simpson-pusey/career)
10. [Simpson-Pusey, Jahmai, The Celtic Wiki](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/simpson-pusey-jahmai/)
11. [Jahmai Simpson-Pusey: Who is the Manchester City-owned defender at Cologne?, Bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-jahmai-simpson-pusey-cologne-man-city-defender-35426)
12. [Scouting Report: Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, The Scouting App](https://www.thescoutingapp.com/shared/en/WYODn2gotpeseZ5nGFBm79c26adcf0bc0fbff37ad56192e1ebdd0365)
---
*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 › Defenders › Center-backs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 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