Academy Briefing: New scholars intake announced

Academy Briefing: New scholars intake announced

Twelve youngsters celebrated the signing of Manchester United scholarships in a special ceremony at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

On the day that they proudly became full-time footballers, the new recruits and their families joined together to be officially inducted into the Professional Development Phase group ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Current first-team goalkeeper Tom Heaton, Academy graduate no.241, reflected on the lessons he learnt and gave valuable advice to the teenagers as they approach this new stage of their careers.

“There’s fantastic staff at this football club, fantastic facilities, incredible opportunities, but my belief is that your career is your own,” he said, in a Q&A with Nick Cox, Director of Academy.

“It’s up to you to take responsibility and ownership. Look at yourself, what you’re good at, what you need to get better at, take responsibility for that, keep doing it, keep doing it, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of having a fantastic career. This football club demands that young players get an opportunity. It’s in the history. So if you do it, you keep doing it, that’s where you should be aiming.”

Cox addressed the group on the significance of their achievements, and the pride they should all feel in becoming a first-year scholar at the club, while Travis Binnion (head of player development and coaching and Under-21s lead coach) explained what lies ahead this season, including exciting coaching, playing, educational and cultural experiences. Like Heaton, he also outlined the standards expected at United.

Players were officially presented with their Manchester United club suit, including the iconic blazer. Long-serving Academy staff member Dave Bushell helped to explain the historic significance of the suits, which have been worn by our players since Sir Matt Busby’s era.

The initial intake of scholars includes 12 players, several of whom have already experienced Under-18s football last season, with the promotion of youngsters above their age group helping to further their development.

We would like to wish all of the new intake the very best for their future careers. Keep across ManUtd.com and the United App for further coverage from a special Old Trafford evening, and for the chance to learn more about this latest group of scholars.

FIRST-YEAR SCHOLARS

Noah Ajayi (Forward)
Neithan Barbosa (Forward)
Nathaniel-Junior Brown (Forward)
Yuel Helafu (Defender)
Eddie Ibrovic-Fletcher (Midfielder)
Louie Bradbury (Forward)
Rafe McCormack (Defender)
Jay McEvoy (Midfielder)
Jayden Ngwashi (Defender)
Jariyah Shah (Midfielder)
Jacob Watson (Defender)
Zachary Watson (Goalkeeper)

PRE-SEASON BEGINS

The new scholars will join up with the rest of the PDP squad for a training camp in Germany at adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach.

Several behind-closed-doors friendlies will follow for the Under-18 and Under-21 groups, with others available for fans to attend still to be announced.

Tickets will soon be available for a friendly against Rochdale, which takes place on Saturday 2 August (15:00 BST) at the Crown Oil Arena.

An Under-19 squad will then travel to Zagreb to compete in the Mladen Ramljak Memorial Tournament in Croatia for the third successive year.

The league seasons for both the U18s and U21s will then likely begin mid-August.

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