Name: Nils Zander
Date of Birth: 06/02/1993
Position: Full Back
Club: Manchester City
Previous clubs: FC Shalke
International caps: Germany U-15 1 (0)
Germany U-16 10 (0)
Germany U-17 4 (0)
Zander was Mark Hughes’ first signing of the 09/10 summer transfer
window for big spending Man City. Although Zander never made a first
team appearance for FC Shalke he impressed in the youth team enough
for Hughes to bring the young international to Eastland’s alongside
many multi-million pound stars. Zander is a versatile defender who
can play anywhere across the back four, but is most suited to a full
back position and was originally seen as a back-up for Wayne Bridge on
the left-hand side before the clubs £16 million signing of Aleksander
Kolarov.
Zander was originally signed on a youth deal and was offered his first
professional contract ten months later, after making regular
appearances for the youth team, his current deal now runs until the
summer of 2012 and Zander has gone on to become a regular for the
reserves at City
City’s Abu Dhabi owners have insisted that as well as big investment
in first team players they will continue with the youth system which
has produced the likes of Nedum Onouha, Micah Richards and Stephen
Ireland in recent years, and Zander will be looking to be the latest
youth prospect to become a proven Premier League player for the club,
although it has been hinted that he may first have to gain first team
experience on loan at another club.