United confirm Academy intake for 2020/21

Last term, the youth team reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup and were sixth in the U18 Premier League when the Academy season was curtailed.

Elder members of last year’s group will now move into the Under-23s squad and players from the previous campaign’s Under-16s side step up to join Neil Ryan's Under-18s.  

The initial intake includes eight players, five of whom have represented United at younger age groups and there are also three new arrivals from outside of the club.

Shola Shoretire and Omari Forson have signed scholarship forms. Both players already have experience in United’s Under-18s side, having featured throughout the season and in the Youth Cup run as United set up that cancelled semi-final against Chelsea. Shoretire scored at Old Trafford against Wigan Athletic in the quarter-finals.

Manchester-born defender Rhys Bennett, 16, has been with United since Under-9s level. There is more local representation in the shape Oliver Kilner, who hails from Stockport.

Englishmen Logan Pye and Joe Hugill both arrive from Sunderland. Pye is an England Under-16 international who plays in defence and Hugill is a striker who has represented the Black Cats at Under-23s level.

There are two new goalkeeping additions to the group – Czech Republic youngster Radek Vitek joins from Sigma Olomouc and Pole Daniel Polakowski, who has been with United since he was nine.

A further announcement confirming new arrivals to the Academy squads is due to be published at a later date.

Academy intake:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Polakowski, Radek Vitek.
Defenders: Rhys Bennett, Oliver Kilner, Logan Pye.
Midfielder: Omari Forson.
Forwards: Joe Hugill, Shola Shoretire. 

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