Alex Nimely

Manchester City

Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Nimely began his career at Liberian Premier League side Mighty Barrolle, who won the league title in 2006. He moved on to Cameroonian side Coton de Garoua, who won the Elite One title in 2006, 2007 and 2007–08 seasons. He went on trial with Manchester City in December 2007 before signing a four-year deal with the club in January 2008. He helped City win the FA Youth Cup in 2008. He made his Premier League debut during a 6–1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on 3 April 2010. He signed a new four-year contract with the club the following month. He featured in a 1–1 draw with Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on 16 December 2010 that ensured City won their UEFA Europa League group; he was taken off for Pablo Zabaleta on 61 minutes. On 17 September 2011, he signed a three-month loan deal with Championship side Middlesbrough. His first appearance came in the League Cup three days later as "Boro" were beaten 2–1 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. He went on to make nine league appearances at the club, though he did not start another game. On 12 January 2012, he signed a loan deal with Coventry City until the end of the 2011–12 season after manager Andy Thorn described him as a "hot young prospect". He scored his first goal in the English Football League on his "Sky Blues" debut in a 3–1 victory over former club Middlesbrough at the Ricoh Arena. On 10 January 2013, he signed on loan with Crystal Palace until the end of the…

In May 2010, Nimely rejected a call-up from Liberia for 2010 World Cup qualifiers and declared to the press that he had chosen to play for England, as his father is English. He was called up to the under-20 squad for the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Egypt. He scored a goal in a 1–1 draw with Uzbekistan at the Mubarak International Stadium on 2 October. This was the only goal England scored in the tournament, and they were eliminated at the Group Stage. He received his first call up to the under-21 side in November 2011 but was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. He accepted a call-up for Liberia in October 2016 and was an unused substitute in a friendly match against Kenya on 15 November 2016.

Nimely was fined £600 and banned from driving for 18 months after admitting to driving with excess alcohol in January 2014; he had been charged after crashing his car in Manchester. He has a younger brother, Sylvanus, who plays in Liberia and has been capped for the senior Liberia squad.