The Red Devils’ youth sides are set to begin their fresh campaigns over the coming days, with preparations intensifying at Carrington as staff put the finishing touches to their plans.
The Under-18s face Manchester City in what could prove to be an early championship showdown, with both clubs having largely controlled that age group in recent times. Meanwhile, the Under-21s welcome Ipswich Town on Monday evening.
This week’s Academy Notebook section highlights promising talents Noah Ajayi and Jaydan Kamason, along with coverage of the club’s participation at a tournament in the Netherlands recently.
Ajayi appears set to commit his future to the club after an impressive campaign with the Under-18s. While JJ Gabriel dominated headlines during the FA Youth Cup run, Ajayi contributed two goals in that competition and finished the term with nine strikes across all competitions.
That tally featured the decisive goal against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League Cup final. Observers drew parallels between his attacking style down the left flank and a young Marcus Rashford.
His absence from the recent announcement of nine players signing professional deals sparked concern among supporters, particularly given reported interest from Bayern Munich during the close season. Born in Hamburg to a Nigerian father and German mother, Ajayi now appears set to remain in Manchester as negotiations progress toward a first professional deal.
A significant number of academy players still require clarity regarding their situations for the upcoming season. Kamason is believed to be among those uncertain about where they will be playing in 2026/27. His impressive showing in the friendly against Rosenborg last month, providing two assists after the interval, suggests a Championship loan would best serve his progression.
The complication is that the season has already commenced without any loan arrangement in place. Kamason is not alone in this predicament, with several academy players needing to secure temporary moves before the transfer window closes. United’s approach to loans has faced criticism, and the club could reasonably be expected to improve in this area. Ideally, such moves would be arranged at the beginning of summer to give players the optimal opportunity to settle into a new setting. While the Premier League campaign has not yet begun, the EFL season started last weekend, leaving United’s loan strategy appearing somewhat uncoordinated.
United’s Under-21s faced Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in another closed-door fixture at Carrington this week, with Gabriel finding the net once more. He initiated the attacking move with a short exchange down the left before using skill to beat his opponent, creating space inside the area. A player of his quality rarely fails to convert from such close range.
The 15-year-old should transition smoothly to the Under-21s this term. He is also anticipated to make his senior debut, though discussions surrounding his future will inevitably intensify as the season develops. Next summer presents a potential window for him to join Barcelona. United have made significant efforts to demonstrate a viable route to the first team, which may prove decisive when he must make a choice.
Gabriel came close to leaving United last year but grew emotional at the prospect of departing a club he holds dear and elected to remain.
The Otten Innovation Cup took place over the weekend, an annual Under-19 tournament hosted by PSV Eindhoven at their training complex. The competition has produced numerous well-known names, including Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Marc Cucurella and Anthony Gordon in earlier stages of their careers.
Darren Fletcher led a strong United Under-19 squad featuring players such as Yuel Helafu, Rafe McCormack, Jayden Ngwashi, Jacey Carrick and Kai Rooney. United were defeated 1-0 by PSV in their opening fixture, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s son among the home side’s substitutes, before sharing a 1-1 draw with Brazilian club SE Palmeiras. They then tied Adelaide United 2-2, ultimately finishing fifth in the tournament.
Fletcher had aimed for a stronger showing at the competition, though the trip provided valuable match practice ahead of the new campaign.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that Arsenal are pursuing Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, surprising academy observers, though closer examination reveals the logic. Arsenal lack depth in their Under-21 squad, making Ogunneye and Scanlon attractive options. David Horseman, who spent three months working with United’s Under-21s, was recently appointed as Arsenal’s Under-21 manager.
Horseman is familiar with both players and clearly believes they would strengthen Arsenal’s youth side. However, whether this represents the optimal career move for either individual remains debatable. Ogunneye, 20, spent last season on loan at Newport County, while Scanlon, 19, had a stint with Swindon Town. They might benefit more from pursuing another move to a lower league to establish themselves professionally, though Arsenal’s proposal could prove the most sensible option.