United strike again with raid for another English sensation hours after landing Man City wonderkid – report

Manchester United have successfully lured Manchester City wonderkid Karim Cassim to Old Trafford in yet another major coup for the Red Devils, a well-placed academy source reveals. Midfield Magician Cassim is considered one of the brightest talents in Manchester City’s academy, having broken through to the Citizens’ under-18 side last year despite only turning 16 at the start of the campaign. The England under-17 international is a versatile midfielder, capable of playing in the No. 6, No. 8 or No. 10 roles. His passing is purposeful and precise, while his decision-making on the ball shows a maturity few in his age group possess. Possessing a wand of a right foot, the youngster is also a goal threat, having scored three times last season, including this “absolute rocket” against Burnley. An absolute rocket from Karim Cassim 🚀 pic.twitter.com/xXW6GZUgRG — Manchester City Academy (@ManCityAcademy) March 21, 2026 With his 17th birthday fast approaching (12 September), Cassim will be eligible to enter into his first professional contract, as per Premier League regulations for academy players. Increasingly, the battleground for the best young talent is now taking place at youth level, with England’s top clubs aiming to secure their signature in hope of landing the next Jude Bellingham – or Ayden Heaven. United strike deal The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of Cassim, with talks ongoing in recent months to gauge whether it would be possible to convince him to cross the inter-city divide. A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed there was confidence Cassim had opted for the red half of Manchester over the blue – which a reliable academy source has now confirmed. Earlier today, Manchester United were said to have sealed a deal for a different Manchester City wonderkid, David Eze. Now, MUFC Youth contends it is a double raid as Cassim has also greenlit the switch. Manchester United have completed the Double Signing of Karim Cassim and David Eze from Rivals Manchester City 🚨 pic.twitter.com/YrR2nEkVZo — Manchester_United_Youth (@MUFC_Youth) July 22, 2026 Tweet: “Manchester United have completed the Double Signing of Karim Cassim and David Eze from Rivals Manchester City.” The account is considered highly reliable for youth football updates, having previously lifted the lid on United’s moves for Samuel Lusale and Heaven. Attacking Football, who broke the news of Eze’s switch, have now also confirmed the news, claiming United have “completed a deal to sign highly rated Manchester City midfielder Karim Cassim.” Final Thoughts Since taking charge of the football operation at Old Trafford, INEOS have implemented a renewed focus on signing the best “emerging talent” from across the globe. The captures of Malian wonderkid Sekou Kone or Paraguayan sensation Diego Leon underscore this ‘worldwide’ approach. But Manchester United’s rulers are also unafraid to go toe to toe with their local rivals if they deem a youngster worth pursuing. The double raid for Cassim and his teammate Eze is just the latest example, with a deal struck for Tottenham Hotspur’s 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson earlier this week. Photo by Miguel Saddi Vitorino via Pexels.com The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.