The Small Details: Divine Mukasa

Born in Newham, Divine Mukasa joined West Ham at the age of 5 in 2013 and worked his way through the age groups until he turned 16. Representing the London club all the way up to U21s. He was part of the 22/23 U18s Premier League South title-winning side for West Ham, which also included Divin Mubama, who joined Manchester City in the summer of 2024, and is now on loan at Stoke City.

Mukasa was an unused substitute in the 2023 FA Youth Cup Final that West Ham won by beating Arsenal 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Mubama started the match along with Oliver Scarles, who broke into the West Ham first-team last season. The Arsenal team that day included Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.

In the summer of 2023, Divine Mukasa turned down a scholarship and a pro contract at West Ham to pursue other options. Whilst he had visited Rangers and Newcastle, it was Manchester City that Mukasa chose to join.

He's represented England at the youth levels, but in the future could represent Lithuania or Uganda through his parents. Mukasa has made appearances for England at U16s, U17s, and U18s. Last summer, he started all four games, including the quarter-final elimination against Italy, for England in the 2024 UEFA U17s Euro Championship. His teammates in that tournament included the likes of Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Mikey Moore (Tottenham), Christopher Rigg (Sunderland), and Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City). Other talented players at the tournament included Geovany Quenda (Chelsea) and Rodrigo Mora (Porto).

The following season, this time with Manchester City, Mukasa was back in the FA Youth Cup Final, starting, as they’d beat Leeds United 4-0. Although he didn't immediately hit the heights he had last season. During the 23/24 U18s PL, only 15 appearances, provided 2 goals, and 5 assists.

It's during the 24/25 U18s PL season that he was able to put it all together. Joint most G+A (31) in the league with Nicholas Oyekunle. Winning the MCFC U18s Players' Player of the Season.

24/25 U18s PL Divine Mukasa 1,739 minutes (20 starts)

• 16 Goals (12 LF, 2 RF)

• 15 Assists

• 71 Key Passes

• 62.2% Long Pass Completion Percentage

• 21 Successful Open-play Crosses

• 65 Shots (39 on target)

• 18 Interceptions

• 70.0% of Tackles Won

• 58.0% of Aerial Duels Won

Reported to be 5ft 11in, but I'd say he's a touch taller than that. In the match against Huddersfield in the League Cup, you could see immediately that Mukasa was comfortable with the physicality. Left-footed but quite natural in using his right foot as well. He’s got the mix of physicality, technical ability, and vision that is rare for a player in his position.

Makes excellent use of one-twos around the box. Takes care to weight his passes well, the kind of small details Guardiola will appreciate. Light on his feet, Mukasa can play a delicate through ball as well as he can zip a long pass out to the winger on the opposite side. There is much more to his overall game that you’ve not seen in his couple of appearances for the first team.

Oliver Reiss, U18s Lead Coach, speaking about Divine Mukasa earlier this year.

Divine Mukasa spoke earlier this year about which player he looks up to.

I don’t think Guardiola, even with injuries, takes Divine Mukasa with the squad to play Palermo unless he’s impressed in training and a genuine option off the bench. As we got to see in the friendly, when Marmoush is playing as the left winger, you want more options on the bench to replace Haaland, and Mukasa is capable of playing false nine as he works his way into the first team.

It’s his appreciation for the small details that I think will have impressed Guardiola the most. Do not do too much and force yourself into situations to score. Rather, make the right decision, find your teammate, and weigh the pass well. As he did for the goal, Reijnders scored.

That very same appreciation for a pass we saw in his assist for the goal Foden scored from outside the box. Comfortable with a defender against his back. Mukasa plays the one-two with Foden, who only needs to take one touch to set his shot before shooting. Pass back from Mukasa, into free space, firm, and flat.

It’s easy to forget, with how young Foden is, that already he’s a leader to the rest of the players coming through the academy. He’s the example they want to emulate. He has the temperament and awareness to support them. Haaland spoke recently about how every player can lead in their own way. For Phil Foden, this is exactly how he can be a leader in the team. Setting standards in training, supporting the young players in adjusting to the first team, and on the pitch, shouldering the responsibility by demanding the ball.

Here are the actions Mukasa made in the match against Huddersfield. Dropping deep at times for the few instances City were building up, and for the most part pulling out wide to be a passing option. Alert in the box, he was in the right position for a few loose balls and cutbacks, but couldn’t convert.

It’s not just Phil Foden, either; it’s the support from other players and coaches to integrate the young players, which is key for them to settle in to perform. To feel welcome, part of the group, and to learn. Kolo Toure was mentioned by Mukasa here, and you’ve seen his interactions with the other players at matchdays and training as a huge positive influence.

Throughout the summer, there were links between Mukasa and other clubs in Europe, with Leverkusen being the most notable one. After his first couple of appearances, now all City fans will have seen why clubs were trying to convince him to leave. Not only is it on Mukasa to settle in well to the first team, as we’ve seen reported by Jack Gaughan. It’s also on the club to show him a pathway.

If we’re looking further ahead for more minutes, the draw against Swansea in the 4th round of the League Cup (29/10/2025) is the nearest opportunity for Mukasa to pick up another start. There aren’t the Champions League matches like last season against Slovan Bratislava, for example, where you could expect to see Mukasa start matches.

FK Bodø/Glimt (A) is the one match in the competition to look at as an opportunity, but that doesn’t take place until January. The FA Cup doesn’t start until January 10th for Manchester City. But, for a team that will need to rest Erling Haaland late in matches, where possible, and injuries are always around the corner, there will be opportunities off the bench for a player who can then act as the false nine and attacking midfielder for Guardiola.

During the 23/24 season, Oscar Bobb only started two matches before January against Newcastle (LC) and Red Star (CL). Picking up minutes off the bench in nine matches as well. From January onwards, that season Bobb started six matches. Anywhere between 500 - 800 minutes over the course of the 25/26 season would be a great start for Divine Mukasa as he looks to break into the first team.

To get himself settled into the group, comfortable in the first-team environment, and in a position to push his way into the first team more consistently during the 26/27 season. That should be his focus during this season. It’s important not to be focused on playing in a certain position and instead look at consistently delivering the smaller details when you do get minutes.

Focus on the role you can play and helping the team when you get a chance. That’s how Phil Foden has gone on to start 100+ Premier League games for the club. It’s why we’re looking at Nico O’Reilly and Oscar Bobb as genuine contenders to be first-choice starters this season.

That all being said, it’s a long way for Divine Mukasa to go over the next couple of years, and as we’ve seen with Oscar Bobb last season, football is unpredictable. Whether it be injuries and players that decide to leave, it opens up a route towards more minutes. When we’re only looking at the talent he has, this is a player who can become a regular starter.