Man United welcome 12 new scholars, including highly rated duo

Manchester United have announced that 12 youngsters have signed scholarship deals.

The new recruits and their families were officially inducted into the Professional Development Phase group ahead of the 2025/26 season at a ceremony held at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

Director of Academy Nick Wilcox, first-team goalkeeper Tom Heaton, the club’s 241st academy graduate, and U21s head coach Travis Binnion attended the ceremony.

Several of the youngsters have debuted for the U18s. One is centre-back Jayden Ngwashi, who has signed a four-year deal with the club and forward Louie Bradbury.

Ngwashi made his first appearance for the U18s in the league victory over Middlesbrough in March and debuted for the U21s in the same month.

He is highly rated by figures at the club and at the national team level. There is a ‘great deal of hope about his ceiling as a player’.

Bradbury made three appearances for the U18s last term. He scored on his first start, netting in the victory at Blackburn Rovers in February.

The Welsh youngster is another who could climb through the ranks to become a vital player for the club.

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

The U18s and U21s squads will be involved in several closed-doors friendlies, while there are also plans for them to play some games with fans in attendance.

The U21s are already scheduled to take on National League side Rochdale on August 2.

Full first-year scholars list

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)

Article written by Henry Thornton .