Manchester United u21s hosted a PFA XI on Wednesday afternoon at Carrington.
The initiative was created to give free agents a pre-season camp to attend while searching for a new club.
The PFA XI sees a selection of free agents come together for friendly matches with their match vs United being the last of the summer after a ten week camp.
For United, the match offered a chance to pit United’s youngsters against senior players and saw Diego Leon feature for Travis Binnion’s side for the first time.
First half
United started the match with the majority of possession but a freak wonder goal from Connor Wickham gave the PFA XI an early lead.
Spotting Will Murdock off his line, Wickham expertly struck from just inside the halfway line to beat the United keeper.
CONNOR WICKHAM. WOW 🤯
The striker gives us the lead at Carrington from the half way line. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YcTIUwgDZ0
— PFA (@PFA) September 3, 2025
Wickham caused United the most trouble throughout the half and on one occasion caused James Overy and Albert Mills to crash into each other before he bent the ball just wide of the top right corner.
In the 29th minute, Wickham forced a big save from Murdock when he lashed a shot towards goal after the ball broke free from a corner.
Up the other end, Shea Lacey was United’s star of the day as he jinked inside and out.
After a couple of attempts, Lacey got his well deserved goal in the 42nd minute when he curled the ball off the left post and in.
Shea Lacey take a bow https://t.co/cbCS0IHXF7 pic.twitter.com/HoG5fQyvPS
— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) September 3, 2025
Second half
The second half continued in the same vein as the first with United controlling possession but the chances in front of goal dried up after the exits of Lacey and Wickham.
United pinned the PFA XI into their own half but were limited to half chances with Jariyah Shah and Jaydan Kamason having efforts blocked.
James Bailey looked to force through a later winner charging forward with the ball from the United half but his effort from the edge of the box was held by the keeper.
Ultimately, neither side were able to clinch the win as it finished 1-1.
A good experience for a very young United side to challenge themselves against senior professionals.
Match facts
United: Murdock, Overy (Helafu 60), Mills, Watson, Leon (Ngwashi 60), Thwaites (Shah 60), Fitzgerald (J. Fletcher 60), Lacey (Kamason 60), Ibragimov (Bailey 60), Mather, Musa (Brown 60)
Goals: Lacey 42 | Wickham 7
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Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
