Quick reads
While Manchester United is famous for giving Academy players the chance to play in the first team, not all young people can reach Old Trafford.
Many United fans are concerned about the news that Angel Gomes will leave Old Trafford after refusing a new contract, but how did the recent graduates go after leaving the club?
We looked at the 13 Academy players who were released at the end of the 2018-19 season.
James Wilson
After spending the 2018-19 season on loan in Aberdeen, Wilson joined the Scottish team with an open-ended contract on the expiry of his contract with United.
The striker didn’t score a single goal in the first half of the season and signed for the Two Salford City team in January 2020.
“It’s a new beginning for me, it’s a new club, a new environment, slightly different from what I’m used to and which is refreshing,” Wilson told the Manchester Evening News in February 2020.
He scored twice on his debut against Plymouth Argyle, but the 24-year-old failed to find the back of the net in his next five appearances.
???? The Manchester United pedigree has an immediate impact
James Wilson scored twice on his Salford City debut last night – six years after doing the same at Old Trafford
Watch other League Two goals: https://t.co/TzZ2A7Kv5A pic.twitter.com/4QBJUnnaP0
Regan Poole
Poole made his one and only senior appearance in United as a substitute for a draw of the last 32 in the Europa League against FC Midtjylland in 2016.
The center-back signed for the new League One club Milton Keynes Dons in 2019 and has made 25 appearances in all competitions in his debut season.
DJ Buffonge
Buffonge has trained with the senior team on several occasions under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but has not done enough to earn an extension of the contract at Old Trafford.
After rehearsals at Derby County and Bolton Wanderers, the midfielder joined the Serie B Spezia team in Italy with a one-year contract.
The 21-year-old made only three league appearances in the first half of the campaign and was loaned to the Serie C Pergolettese club in January 2020.
Tyrell Warren
Warren joined Salford City at the start of the 2019-2020 campaign and spent time on loan at Radcliffe Borough and Boston United.
Matty Willock
United had high hopes for Matty Willock – Arsenal’s brother Joe Willock – but the midfielder failed to tap his potential and signed for Gillingham in 2019.
The 23-year-old broke his knee at the debut and was limited to seven league one appearances this season.
Matthew Olosunde
Olosunde was one of the few success stories on this list.
The US international was captured by Rotherham United and quickly established himself as a regular holder, making 39 appearances in all competitions while his new club won automatic championship promotion.
Another promising defender to add the longer-term USMNT depth chart. Matthew Olosunde (22) was the key to Rotherham’s success in League One this year. Rotherham is currently in second place, direct promotion ⤵️
-> 32 Games ✅
-> 9 Clean sheets ????
-> 3 assists ????️ # USMNT #OneGoal pic.twitter.com/fAnla5Fbyx– OneGoal.US (@OneGoalUS) April 12, 2020
Callum Whelan
After being released from United, Whelan signed a one-year contract in Watford and quickly became a mainstay of his Under 23 team.
“I think my time had run out at United and I was ready for a new challenge in Watford. I started out on good terms and was just grateful for 14 years and joining a huge club, “Whelan told Watford’s official website in December 2019.
“I think Watford is a great club. I went down for a few weeks in pre-season to take a look. It only took me a day or two to decide to come here. “
The midfielder made two first-team appearances in 2019-2020, both of which made it to the FA Cup.
Thomas Sang
Sang failed to reach the level at Old Trafford and joined the Cardiff City Under 23 team before the 2019-2020 season.
The 21-year-old made his senior debut for the Bluebirds in a penalty shoot-out defeat against Reading in the FA Cup in February 2020.
Zak Dearnley
Dearnley has had rehearsals with Bursaspor and Rotherham United after leaving Old Trafford, only due to fitness problems to make any potential deal go bankrupt.
He had a brief spell with non-league New Mills and joined Oldham Athletic in January 2020 after returning to full fitness.
The winger had a brilliant start to life in Boundary Park, scoring four goals in his first eight games for the League Two championship.
⚽️ @ZakDearnley has an announcement to make … #oafc pic.twitter.com/45KNU8sfPw
– Oldham Athletic (@OfficialOAFC) June 25, 2020
Callum Gribbin
Gribbin has been listed as the next big news, but injuries have hindered his progress and the midfielder has left United without a senior appearance to his name.
The midfielder received a potential lifeline from Sheffield United in October 2019 following a successful run with their Under 23s.
But he failed to join the first team and was released by the Blades in June 2020.
Millen Baars
Baars spent two years in the United academy, but struggled to find a new club after leaving Old Trafford in 2019.
The 20-year-old had a trial with AZ Alkmaar’s reserve team, Jong AZ, and eventually got a two-year contract with the Dutch team in May 2020.
Joshua Bohui
Despite being offered a new contract at Old Trafford, Bohui has decided to join NAC Breda in the Dutch second tier in search of regular first team football.
“I was playing football between Under 18 and Under 23, but I was at an age when I felt the need to play senior, first team football,” Bohui told us in March 2020.
A knee injury limited the forward to just four league appearances in 2019-2020, and was listed at the end of the season.
READ: Jose was not “accessible” to Man Utd, says the former Academy prospect
James Thompson
Thompson has been without a club since he left United in June 2019 and is currently studying at university.
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