Nico O'Reilly is an English footballer who operates as a left back or midfielder, and has emerged from the Manchester City pipeline to the senior ranks. Born on 21 March 2005, he arrived in City's academy system as a child and has since attracted attention for his technical flair and versatility. Walkouts collectors and fans alike note how his early breakthrough moments on the pitch now give provenance to signed shirts and authentic autographs linked to his rise.
Raised in Manchester and of Irish and Jamaican descent, O'Reilly joined the Manchester City academy at the age of eight and progressed steadily through the youth teams. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2022, and his leadership qualities were recognised when he captained the under-18s during the 2022-23 season. That period included highlight-reel moments, most famously an overhead scorpion kick scored in April 2023 and a forty-yard chip a week later against Manchester United under-18s, plays that helped build his early collector appeal.
O'Reilly trained with the first team on a warm weather camp in Abu Dhabi in December 2022 and was named on the bench for a Premier League match away to Brighton on 24 May 2023. His senior debut for Manchester City arrived in the FA Community Shield on 10 August 2024, a milestone that has since been used to verify early-match-worn shirts and matchday provenance for memorabilia.
Across the 2024-25 season O'Reilly registered a string of decisive contributions in cup and league competition. He scored his first senior goal for City in an FA Cup third round match on 11 January 2025 against Salford City, then netted his first career brace on 1 March 2025 versus Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round. He followed that with a Man of the Match display in the quarter-final on 30 March 2025, assisting both goals in a 2-1 win at Bournemouth. His first Premier League start came on 2 April 2025, and he scored his first top flight goal on 12 April 2025 against Crystal Palace.
O'Reilly continued to establish himself, signing a new five-year contract on 26 September 2025 and scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal on 10 December 2025 away to Real Madrid. Internationally he has represented England at youth levels, scoring for the under-16s on 3 June 2021, and for the under-17s on 21 October 2022. He made his England under-20 debut on 6 September 2024, received an under-21 call-up on 29 August 2025, and earned his first senior call-up in October 2025 before making his senior debut in a 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley.
His honours with the club to date include being part of the squad that won the FA Community Shield 2024, and that finished runner-up in the FA Cup 2024-25. For collectors, early career milestones and match involvement provide clear provenance: match-worn shirts, authenticated autographs and certified memorabilia tied to specific fixtures and key dates increase the narrative value of each piece.
For Walkouts collectors seeking items that connect directly to a player's defining moments, items associated with O'Reilly's debut, first goals and cup performances carry traceable provenance and storytelling power. As his first-team minutes grow, so too will the range of signed shirts and authenticated merchandise available, each piece documenting a tangible part of his evolving legacy.
