Following the final match day of the academy league season, it is a heartfelt time around Carrington as some academy players say their goodbyes.
But as a touch of class, Manchester United have gifted the departing players a framed shirt to always remember their time at the club.
Five members of United’s u16s are amongst those departing this summer, all of whom have already secured deals with new clubs.
Amongst those departing is Siem Eyob-Abraha, an Eritrean forward who also received the parting gift of an u18s debut yesterday in a 3-1 win, prior to being released.
Manchester United presented their u16s who are leaving this season with a framed Jersey. ❤️
Probably a topic that’s not spoken much, but for me clubs get a lot of stick regarding players who are released, but the reality is an academy players journey will end at some point.… pic.twitter.com/uS570jROxv
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) May 4, 2024
Eyob-Abraha will now join Sheffield United, a club he has recently spent time trialing with.
Another pacy forward in Majid Balogun is among the released and will join West Ham United, having been followed by a number of clubs which included a trial with Leeds United earlier in the season.
With two forwards leaving, it is likely United will look to the market to bring in a new forward to join the u18s next season and one name already mentioned is England u16s international Zyan Blake of Nottingham Forest.
Another recognisable name amongst the released is Freddie Freedman, the son of Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, who himself has been linked in recent months with a move to join the United back room staff.
The father and son duo won’t be joining up though as young Freddie makes the move to Everton, which interestingly means he will have played for the two biggest rivals of Liverpool, a club he has a close connection with being the grandson of the late Liverpool and England legend Ray Clemence.
The final two to depart are Rory Leech, who will join Hull City and Nathaniel Mapengu, who stays in the Manchester area with Stockport County.
It is always a difficult time when departing a top club like Manchester United having often spent many formative years at the club. The club can take pride in the fact that all of those departing players have been helped in securing new clubs and that they will always be welcome back at Carrington with the newly launched alumni programme.
The released players also gives an indication of who is amongst next year’s U18 intake, with the remaining below u16s expected to make the step up: Dan Armer, James Bailey, Godwill Kukonki, Fred Heath, Albert Mills, Dante Plunkett, Cameron Byrne-Hughes, Bendito Mantato, Amir Ibragimov, Jim Thwaites.
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