Derby day debuts of the Premier League era

It might feel rare for a player to make their first appearance for City in a derby but there are some already in Pep Guardiola’s squad that have done just that.

And there is the possibility that new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could follow suit if he features in the City line-up for the derby at the Etihad on Sunday, 13 September at 16:30 (UK).

But before drilling down into recent debuts; a quick quiz question to kick off a look back at derby debuts since the Premier League began in 1992: who was the last player to make their debut in a Manchester derby at home and score?

The answer will come up at the bottom of the article, and if you need a clue, he went onto become a prominent politician in his home country.

Timing is key for debuts and opponents and with last season’s Community Shield kicking off the campaign, two of the current squad made their first senior appearances against United. 

After impressing on the 2024 preseason tour of the United States, Nico O’Reilly was handed his first start for the Blues at Wembley.

It was a proud moment for the Manchester-born Academy player as City went on to lift the trophy following a penalty shootout.

“The stadium is massive and [my debut] was in a derby as well,” he told the official Man City Podcast.

“I got my first few touches out the way and settled down.

“I watched the game back and knew I could have done some things better but as a whole I was proud of it.”

The Wembley curtain-raiser was also the first appearance for Savinho, with the Brazilian winger coming on as a second-half substitute and having a hand in Bernardo Silva’s equaliser before scoring in the shootout.

Manuel Akanji scored the winning penalty, nearly three years after he made his first Etihad appearance in the Premier League in that unforgettable 6-3 win over United.

Although not an official debut, Phil Foden memorably made his first start in the first Manchester derby outside England when the two sides met in a pre-season friendly in Houston.

Still 17 and with some growing to do, United’s Paul Pogba towered over him in the centre of midfield, but Foden was sensational and Guardiola was in no question that the Texas fans had been given the first sight of someone special.

“You are lucky guys, believe me, you are the guys who saw his first game in the first team at Manchester City,” he said.

“I’ve not seen something like I saw today for a long time. His performance was another level. He’s a City fan and loves the club. He’s a gift for us.”

Two other players have made their debuts in Manchester derbies under Guardiola, both in the same Old Trafford encounter which was also the Catalan’s first experience of the clash.

Back in September 2016, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo made an eventful City bow in a 2-1 victory against Louis van Gaal’s side at Old Trafford.

After spilling a cross that led to Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring, United also wanted a penalty for a second-half challenge on Wayne Rooney after a nifty piece of skill.

In the second half, Leroy Sane came on for his first appearance in a Blues shirt, replacing Fernando, for his first 30 minutes of a thrilling City career.

The two previous derby debutants also made their bows five miles across the city in a famous game in 2008.

Under Sven-Goran Erikson, we completed a double with a 2-1 win in February in what was the last game to see a City player scoring on their Premier League debut against United.

Benjani was the match winner, scoring City’s second with a header on the way to victory which was secured with the help of substitute Felipe Caicedo who was also making first appearance in sky blue.

“I was staying at the Hilton in Manchester with my wife and kids and decided to go for a celebration drink with one of my friends,” Benjani recalled.

“That’s when it really hit me because the club had assigned two bodyguards to go with me and make sure I was safe. Everyone at the bar was looking around wondering who it was and why they needed bodyguards!

“Any City fan I met wanted to buy me a drink, so it was a great day.”

In December 2006, Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson’s first appearance was at Old Trafford in a 3-1 defeat as a replacement for Nicky Weaver while 11 months earlier, Spanish winger Albert Riera made his debut in a 3-1 win at home.

City greats Shaun Goater and Shaun Wright-Phillips both made their first Premier League home debuts against the Reds in November 2001, but of course they had already made a significant contribution in helping us rise through the divisions.

And the first Premier League debut by a City player, back in November 1996, scoring in a 3-2 defeat and the answer to the poser set earlier?

Mikhail Kavelashvili, one of four Georgians to join the Club at the time, was on target and is currently the president in the Eastern European country.