Manchester City have seen one of their players leave the club days after the guilty verdict for financial breaches was announced

Manchester City have seen the first player leave the club in the aftermath of the guilty verdict that was brought against the club last week. City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges for financial breaches that were brought forward by the Premier League, and have since confirmed they have submitted an appeal.

Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of Charlie Holt from City, with the 17-year-old leaving the Premier League outfit to move to the Championship club.

City maintain their innocence and claim to have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” which should clear them of any wrongdoing. A list of potential punishments for City have been mentioned in the days since the verdict emerged, ranging from points deductions and a fine, to the club being stripped of past trophies and being expelled from the Premier League.

The appeal is expected to be heard by the end of the year, with an independent three-person panel expected to make a decision in the months ahead.

With uncertainty surrounding City’s present and future, a departure has been confirmed with one player completing a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

Holt had signed a scholarship deal with City in the summer of 2025 and went on to feature for the club’s Under-18s throughout last season, featuring 12 times to help the club win the Premier League North.

Cardiff have confirmed that Holt will link up with the club's Under-21s rather than the first-team.

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Now, though, the young midfielder has swapped Manchester for Cardiff, and has explained the reasons behind his decision to leave the Etihad.

"I'm very pleased to be here. It's a great opportunity and a different challenge for me,” Holt said in an interview with Cardiff’s club website.

"It's a brilliant environment to be in and I can't wait to get started. I'd say I'm an energetic player with technical ability on the ball. Hopefully, I can chip in with a few goals as well.

"The opportunities that you can get here at Cardiff City are clear to see. It's a great place to be."