Alex Freeman is open to joining Man City, and with Enzo Maresca still weighing up his options at right-back, January could be when that interest gets tested.
According to Football Insider, City have registered an interest in the 22-year-old and he would be keen on the move. That is good news for a club with no traditional right-back playing every week, although Villarreal hold all the cards. Freeman’s contract runs until 2032, and whether they would listen to offers at this stage is unclear.
The timing is awkward rather than ideal. Maresca’s side went into the weekend top of the table, but the 1-0 home defeat to Brighton made it two Premier League losses in a row. The club also await the outcome of their appeal in the 114 charges case, and they are still watching the market.
Why would Man City want Alex Freeman?
Because the position has been a problem for a couple of seasons now. City have not signed a proper replacement for Kyle Walker, and Maresca has been getting by with players who are not long-term answers there.
Matheus Nunes is first choice as things stand, with six starts across the Premier League and Champions League, but he is a natural central midfielder and Maresca has not settled on him. Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov are the alternatives, and neither is viewed as a long-term first choice in the role.
What does the USA international bring?
Size and flexibility, for a start. Freeman stands 6ft 2in and can also play in the middle of the back line, and that versatility ticks boxes for Maresca.
His rise has been quick too. He only became a regular at senior level for Orlando City at the start of 2025, moved to Villarreal in January 2026 and has made 23 appearances there. He is now their first-choice right-back in La Liga and the Champions League, and he has 26 caps for the United States.
He was also a regular starter at the World Cup, scoring in the 2-0 group-stage win over Australia. Mauricio Pochettino was glowing afterwards: “He’s a lovely guy, and he’s an amazing player. For me, he has the potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world.”
The USA boss went on to praise his attitude as well. “He’s such a humble guy. He has an amazing profile, he wants to learn, he always listens,” Pochettino said.
Would Villarreal sell Freeman in January?
That is the real question, and nobody has answered it yet. Villarreal paid only around £5m for him, so there is a substantial profit to be made, but a contract running to 2032 means they are under no pressure at all.
City will not be alone either. Several other English top-flight clubs have Freeman on their radar, so any January approach could quickly turn competitive. For now, City look set to keep tracking his progress before the winter window opens.
Verdict: Alex Freeman is worth the chase, at the right price
We like this one. A 22-year-old specialist who can also cover at centre-back would solve a problem City keep patching over with a midfielder and two stopgaps, and it would free Nunes to play elsewhere.
There is a catch, though. Freeman still has plenty to prove at the highest level, and Villarreal have no reason to sell cheaply. Being open to a move is the easy part. If City do come calling in January, the fee is what will decide this.
