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Manchester United have added some recent expertise to their academy ranks with the signing of Harley Emsden-James.
“United can pay Southampton a £1 million compensation price for Emsden-James, with the Championship membership retaining a 20 per cent sell-on clause,” The Athletic reported.
“United are excited concerning the signing, who follows fellow youngsters in Chido Obi, Sekou Kone, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon in becoming a member of the membership the previous yr,” the article continued.
Having performed for England on the youth degree, Emsden-James appears to continuously punch above his weight because of his notable expertise.
“Emsden-James has performed within the yr group above in Southampton’s academy. Nonetheless, his departure has felt an growing chance in latest occasions, so this has not come as a shock to Southampton’s employees. Nonetheless, as one of many membership’s key goals to enhance the academy, shedding skills repeatedly will knock that ambition again,” the report concluded.
A pure centre-back, Emsden-James appeared in two U18 Premier League matches for Southampton final season, each instead. (Transfermarkt)
Whereas he’s clearly nonetheless unproven, United followers might be forgiven for getting enthusiastic about this newest signing, given the stellar job that the membership’s expertise community has performed as of late in relation to youth signings.
Signed from Arsenal final season, Chido Obi has been extremely impactful within the handful of senior appearances he has loved so far.
He was significantly scientific in United’s post-season match in opposition to Hong Kong, scoring twice to raise his workforce to an emphatic 3-1 win.
One other promising youthful switch is Ayden Heaven, who signed from the Arsenal U21s in February.
He proved to be a rock on the again in his four Premier League appearances, maintaining two clear sheets within the course of.
If United’s spectacular latest academy signings are something to go by, Emsden-James may simply be the form of defender that the membership must proceed constructing their defensive capabilities forward of subsequent season.
Featured picture Alex Livesey through Getty Photographs
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