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Welcome to our new weekly offering on all things Manchester City Academy. We will be delivering a mix of news, views and interviews over the course of the season as we chart the progress of the Blues Under-21s and Under-18s. Both teams have new coaches in charge, with Oli Reiss having stepped up to the EDS side this term after he enjoyed a successful campaign at the younger age group last term, which included FA Youth Cup glory. Reiss has been replaced as Under-18 chief by his former assistant, Lauris Coggin, who will lead the side into a new league campaign that begins this weekend. This week we round up the latest news from the CFA. Parker goes pro Xavier Parker was among the City youngsters handed scholarships this week. The talented 16-year-old midfielder is highly rated by those at the Etihad. And Parker’s talent hasn't gone unnoticed with other leading clubs seeking to sign the teenager. Liverpool were keen while Manchester United were also linked but Parker, who doesn't turn 17 until May, has now committed his future to City. He's signed a one-year scholarship deal which will automatically become a long-term professional contract next summer. That is significant because now any club seeking to sign the teenager would have to pay a transfer fee rather than complete the deal using a tribunal, which is standard practice for players not on professional terms. Leicester City did similar with Jeremy Monga, and the Blues paid an initial £10million to sign the precocious winger this summer. City will now hope Parker continues his progression with the youngster set to feature across the Under-18 and Under-21 teams this season while also gaining first-team exposure through training with Enzo Maresca’s squad. Transfer windfall City's academy is famed for producing young talent and while the likes of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly have graduated to the first team with distinction in recent years, look around the leading leagues in Europe and you'll see plenty of City graduates performing at the highest level. The most recent to propel himself into a top-five European league is Shea Charles, who has sealed a £30million switch from Southampton to Fulham after a stellar season for the Saints. The Northern Ireland international joined City as a seven-year-old and progressed through the academy to earn a Premier League debut in 2023. He joined the Saints that summer and has now moved to Craven Cottage, with City cashing £4million from the deal as a result of a sell-on clause included in that move to the south coast three years ago. Braithwaite breakthrough City held an open training session on Thursday in front of fans at the Joie Stadium. It was a packed event held in sweltering conditions as Enzo Maresca put his side through their paces ahead of the Community Shield against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday. The Blues have a healthy first team contingent with Kaden Braithwaite the only bona fide academy player involved in the session. The centre back captained the Under-18s to FA Youth Cup glory last season and looks likely to remain at the Etihad and play a key role for Reiss' Under-21s this season. His presence in first-team training this week suggests Maresca has liked what he has seen from the 18-year-old Bolton-born defender. This week's academy fixtures: City U18s vs Liverpool, Saturday, August 15, 11am, Under-18 Premier League. Mansfield vs City U21s, Wednesday, August 19, 7pm, Vertu Trophy.