Every team needs strong, young players to keep the cogs turning. Manchester United are no different. They have to make sure they’re doing what they can to keep pushing forward to take the team to new heights. Football is life for many players and it is a balancing act of giving players opportunities versus putting the team balance at risk.
If you want to find out which Manchester United Academy players could break through into the First Team this season, then take a look below.
Shea Lacey
Shea Lacey is very promising indeed, going viral on social media with his amazing goals. He has also amassed millions of views, helping to generate a lot of buzz from supporters. He signed his contract at a very young age, making him one of the most prestigious players to be given a pro deal at his age. However, one issue with him is that he’s injury-prone. He had just 10 appearances last season because he had an injury, and although fans are very eager to see him in action, it could be an indicator of what is to come.
Jack Fletcher
Jack Fletcher signed for the team with his twin brother last year. They also took part in several first-team sessions throughout the season to see if they were a good fit. They were part of the City academy for a total of 9 years, but United wanted them and paid a £1.25m fee to secure them. It’s strongly suspected that they could be some of the first players to break through into the first team this year, but with that being said, there’s still much to be seen.
Ethan Williams
Ethan Williams was able to contribute a total of 17 goals and 9 assists in 2024. He also played a huge role in the youth side. He signed a contract this season and now has the challenge of trying to make it in the senior side. His dribbling is a major asset, and the fact that he is the nephew of Alex Williams speaks volumes about him. He’s made his mark, is going to continue to do everything he can to stand out from the crowd and already has a lot of support from fans.
Those who place bets on live events will remember what a superstar Alex Williams was, and he was also the first modern black goalkeeper. He played a total of 125 games for City, before retiring at the age of 25. He wanted to inspire people, and was awarded an MBE, for his help and support to young people in the community. Even though an injury might have brought his career to an end, seeing young stars such as Ethan Williams rise through the ranks is a testament to the hard-working ethic of the family.
Bendito Mantato
Bendito Mantato was in great shape when he left the Academy, which would explain why he has such a high level of interest from the league. Although he is perfectly capable of playing left-back, he has openly said that his future is going to lie on the right wing. A lot of this comes down to the fact that he has insane attacking qualities, with him scoring four goals in just one game.
He achieved this feat when he played against Blackburn last year. Going from strength to strength, he is focused on making headway with the things that he struggles with. Mantato is going to announce a professional deal soon and from there, it is entirely possible that he could break through into the First Team.
So as you can see, there are many Manchester United Academy players who could break through into the first team this season. They all have a great deal of potential too, so it’s just a matter of time until we see which ones are going to make their mark on the football world.