Manchester United have always taken pride in generating some of the best young talents in the country. This is apparent with the Manchester United Youth Cup winners in 2022.
The Red Devils academy has produced some of the finest talents ever to play at Old Trafford in the club’s history, including most notably the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes, and more recently, Marcus Rashford.
One academy tournament Manchester United has a prominent history in has to be the FA Youth Cup. They are the competition’s most successful club, winning it eleven times, with one of the most notable sides being the 2011/12 squad with Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Jesse Lingard.
Their most recent victory however came back in the 2021/22 season, which ultimately begs the question, where are the players now?
Radek Vitek
Sheffield United v Manchester United - Premier League
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Name: Radek Vitek
Position: Goalkeeper
Radek Vitek was the goalkeeper who started the FA Youth Cup Final in 2022, and he remains at Manchester United in the present day.
Vitek has been gaining experience out on loan, first with Accrington Stanley and then with Austrian top flight side Blau-Linz.
Now in 2025/26 he is on loan at Championship side Bristol City and winning rave reviews for his performances.
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Marc Jurado
Manchester United v Wrexham - Pre-Season Friendly
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Name: Marc Jurado
Position: Right-Back
The starting right-back was Jurado – who is no longer at Manchester United.
United made the decision to cut ties with former Barcelona youngster Marc Jurado on transfer deadline day of 2023.
He decided to move to Espanyol, where he made only one senior appearance before signing for Spanish third tier-side FC Cartagena in summer 2025.
Louis Jackson
Manchester United U21 V Arsenal U21: Premier League 2
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Name: Louis Jackson
Position: Centre-Back
Louis Jackson played a key role in winning the FA Youth Cup. What was remarkable is that Tyler Fredricson fell ill on the day of the game, Jackson was called in to start against Nottingham Forest.
He remains at Carrington, with the young centre-half has continued to produce excellent performances for United’s academy squads.
After a brief loan at Tranmere Rovers, Jackson signed on loan with National League side Solihull Moors, where he is getting regular game time.
Rhys Bennett
Rhys Bennett in Manchester United shirt
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Name: Rhys Bennett
Position: Centre-Back
Rhys Bennett partnered Jackson at the back and captained the Red Devils’ triumph. He scored the opener in the FA Youth Cup Final.
Bennett made the first team bench under Erik ten Hag but has not made a senior appearance. He has spent time on loan at Stockport County and Fleetwood Town.
He did not move on loan in 2025/26, and has a chance to try and force his way into Ruben Amorim’s plans.
Sam Murray
Blackburn Rovers U21 v Manchester UNited U21: Premier League 2
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Name: Sam Murray
Position: Left-Back
Sam Murray was the left-back who started the fixture, but he failed to make the first team squad.
He was handed a new contract in 2023 but when that expired in 2025 he was among the nine players released by the club.
Murray has signed with National League side Carlisle United, where he is playing under Manchester United legend Mark Hughes.
Kobbie Mainoo
Everton FC v Manchester United - Premier League
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Name: Kobbie Mainoo
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Kobbie Mainoo has come a long way in a short space of time. He started in his favourite role back in 2022.
The talented midfielder is now a regular in Manchester United’s first-team squad, and went on to score the winning goal in the 2024 FA Cup Final.
Mainoo has gone on to play for England, starting the Euro 2024 Final, and while he has faced a battle to hold down a spot under Ruben Amorim, he remains a fan favourite.
Dan Gore
Manchester United's Dan Gore in action against Wrexham.
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Name: Dan Gore
Position: Midfielder
Dan Gore was Mainoo’s midfield partner and they were a fantastic combination. He is primarily deemed as an attacking midfielder, but can also play a little deeper such as he did in this game.
He made his United senior debut in the Carabao Cup win against Crystal Palace in 2023 off the bench but hasn’t featured since.
Gore is on his third loan spell at Rotherham United. He had two previous loans that were wrecked by injuries. He needs better luck this time around.
Sam Mather
Crystal Palace v Manchester United: FA Youth Cup
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Name: Sam Mather
Position: Winger
Sam Mather lined up on the right-hand side of the attack for Manchester United versus Forest.
Mather is an extremely creative winger who has an eye for goal and is always looking to set up his teammates. He is still a constant presence in United’s under-21 side.
He has had brief loan spells at Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers, and is unlikely to progress as a first team player at this point.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen
Galatasaray A.S. v Manchester United: Group A - UEFA Youth League 2023/24
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Name: Isak Hansen-Aaroen
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Manchester United’s answer to Martin Odegaard featured as the attacking midfielder.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen failed to build on his exciting potential where he was one of the best players in United’s youth set up between 2020 an 2022.
He left United to sign with Werder Bremen in early 2024, where he has played four first team games. He spent time on loan at Danish club Aalborg.
Alejandro Garnacho
Everton FC v Manchester United - Premier League
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Name: Alejandro Garnacho
Position: Left-Winger
Alejandro Garnacho was one of the big success stories of the team, scoring twice in the Final, before making his first team debut and scoring his first goal, assisted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Garnacho went on to score 26 first team goals in 144 appearances, including a strike in the FA Cup Final in 2024.
After a fallout with Ruben Amorim he was sold to Chelsea for £40 million, one of the club’s most expensive ever sales.
Charlie McNeill
Manchester United U21 v Monaco U21: Premier League International Cup
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Name: Charlie McNeill
Position: Striker
Charlie McNeill was another prolific scorer on the way to the final, playing a key part in the campaign.
McNeill spent time out on loan at Newport County and Stevenage and scored for both, but was unable to do so consistently.
United released McNeill in 2023 and he signed for Sheffield Wednesday, where he has become a regular in their first team squad.
Substitutes
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest: FA Youth Cup Final
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Sonny Aljofree – Came on as an 86th-minute substitute. Still at Manchester United, out on loan at Notts County.
Maxi Oyedele – Came on as a 64th minute substitution. He was sold to Legia Warsaw before earning a move to Strasbourg. He is now a Poland senior international.
Joe Hugill – Joe Hugill scored for fun at youth level but has struggled to find form across various loan spells. He is currently loaned out to League Two side Barnet.
Logan Pye – Logan Pye completed a permanent move to fellow Premier League side Burnley in September 2023. They have loaned him out to Accrington Stanley.
Tom Wooster – Goalkeeper Tom Wooster was released by Manchester United in the summer of 2025.
Omari Forson – Omari Forson featured for the first team in the Premier League and FA Cup, before leaving on a free transfer to sign with Italian club Monza.
Ethan Ennis – Ethan Ennis suffered an ACL injury that cost him a year, but he has bounced back and has shown promise for the under-21s. He is now on his second loan spell, this time at Fleetwood Town.