David Tully Sep 25th 2025
Man United have agreed a deal in principle to sign Fortaleza CEIF midfielder Cristian Orozco, according to multiple reports.
The youngster is expected to complete his transfer to Old Trafford at the end of the current season.
Read below as we list four things that fans should know about the player ahead of his move to English football.
1) Orozco has yet to make his professional debut
The teenager moved from Rojo FC to Colombian top division side Fortaleza CEIF back in July.
However, Orozco has yet to make his first senior appearance since moving teams.
Despite not having seen him play in senior club football, United scouts are already convinced that he is ready to make the switch to the Premier League.
2) He can’t move to England until next summer
Rules that were enforced after the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU mean that foreign players are not allowed to officially sign for English clubs until they are 18 years of age.
Orozco is currently 17, and his birthday is in July, so the earliest that his transfer can be sanctioned will be summer 2026.
That is why United have had to reach a pre-agreement with Fortaleza for the transfer. The same thing happened when Chelsea signed Estevao and Kendry Paez earlier this year.
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.
