We are delighted to welcome Manchester City winger Emilio Lawrence to Kenilworth Road on loan until the end of the season.
A Scotland Under-21 international who came through Everton’s academy before signing for the then-Premier League champions in 2022, Emilio is an exciting 20-year-old who can play any of the forward roles.
Manager Jack Wilshere said: “I’ve known of Emilio through the years in my time in academy football. He was at Everton and then City signed him, as they recognised him as one of the best players in the country at that age.
“Coming through the City system he has an understanding of what is required from a winger at the top level, and a lot of quality. He can play through the middle, or off either side, but he’s more comfortable off the left coming in on his right foot.
“Of course, he still has to develop and that is part of the reason why we brought him here, to help him with that. But he has also come to help us win some games.
“I speak all the time about having variation in attack and we have had a lot of success down our left side this year, but Emilio is someone who can give us something a bit different.”
Speaking after completing his medical at The Brache, Emilio – who has experienced senior football in the Vertu Trophy with City over the last three seasons – said: “Playing in the Trophy has really helped.
“You really do learn a lot with how much faster and how physical the game is compared to youth football. It makes me more excited to be here and get used to that sort of football.
“Jack was very straightforward with me and said, ‘I just want you to come here, be yourself, express yourself on the pitch, take people on and be confident’. It gives me a push to know that backing is there from the manager.”
Looking ahead to potentially being involved in the League One game against Stevenage at a packed Kenilworth Road, our new number 32 added: “The most we get is a few hundred in 21s football, so I’m excited to get out there in front of a crowd, especially the Luton fans. I can’t wait.”
The story so far
Born in Manchester, Emilio spent a decade as a striker in Everton’s academy before signing for the team he and his family have always supported, Manchester City, in October 2022.
The Sergio Aguero-loving teenager progressed as a wide attacker with the Under-18s in his first two seasons at the Etihad Stadium, as well as playing for their Elite Development Squad in Premier League 2 and the Vertu Trophy.
In the 2023/24 campaign, he made 21 appearances in PL2, scoring five goals and assisting two, before playing 18 times last season as the young City side won the title.
This term he has scored once in nine appearances in PL2, and has two goals in as many Premier League U21 International Cup games in recent weeks, against PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid (see Instagram post below).
He has also played against Oldham, Bolton and Rotherham in the Trophy this term, taking his total to five starts and two sub appearances in that competition over the past three seasons.
Having made his international debut for Scotland U16s as a 14-year-old, Emilio was then capped by England at both U15 and U16 level, but qualifying for Scotland through his Lanarkshire-born mother, Claudette, he was selected again for their U21s last year.
He currently has five caps for Scott Gemmill’s side, with all four of his international goals coming in the young Scots’ record-breaking 12-0 win over Gibraltar at Dundee’s Dens Park in October.
Welcome to Kenilworth Road to write the next chapter, Emilio!
