Manchester City have paid a reported £175,000 for a 13-year-old.

The Times is reporting that City have broken the record fee for a player of such a young age by spending the aforementioned amount on Southend United's Riley Burns.

It is understood that the fee will be paid in stages as Burns develops at City's state-of-the-art academy, with the total rising to £250,000 if he goes on to win a professional contract with the club.

The young gun had been promoted to Southend's U16 side which attracted the attention of City, as well as Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

But it appears as though City have won the race for his signature according to academy manager Ricky Duncan.

"There were four or five Premier League clubs after Finley in the end and it's extremely difficult to keep hold of a boy once that happens," he said.

"He would have had a ten-day window of opportunity to look elsewhere at the end of the season so this was the best way to do it. He's a great kid from a nice family and everything was sorted out amicably which is how it should be.

"We would prefer our best young players to come through and play for our first team but the fact Manchester City are aware of youth players at Southend United reflects very well on what everyone is doing here.

"Man City could sign anyone from across the world so for them to come to us is a real compliment.

"We're still in touch and we wish him all the very best for the future."