Liam Delap will be promoted to the Manchester City first-team squad on a full-time basis next season.
The striker will train every day with Pep Guardiola 's staff after a stunning season in which he scored on his Blues debut, made his Premier League bow, and has bagged 20 goals in 15 games.
The Blues are still exploring the possibility of signing another striker, with club legend Sergio Aguero leaving this summer on a free transfer.
But the prices being quoted for their number one target Erling Haaland are prohibitive, according to Guardiola.
Even if they do bring someone else in, 18-year-old Delap will take the step up, rather than be sent out on loan.
Guardiola refused to allow precocious talent Phil Foden to leave on loan, insisting that training every day with the City first team was a better education than playing lower league football, and it seems that the same decision has been taken on Delap.
Guardiola said: "Liam is training with us this season, like the first season with Brahim (Diaz) and Phil. Jadon (Sancho) did not accept."
Delap has already been moved up to first-team training several times this season, along with others from the promising group of academy graduates.
Guardiola added: "Liam, like (James) McAtee, (Cole) Palmer, and Luke Mbete... many players training and doing well. We are in touch with (EDS coach Enzo) Maresca and talking about how they are developing.
"It’s training with us and next season he’ll be with us next season, training every day."
