Manchester United have been guilty of letting too many talented youngsters slip through their fingers in recent years, and one player in particular is proving them wrong.
The Red Devils have a proud record of featuring an academy graduate in every first-team matchday squad since October 1937, and the club’s heritage is built on blooding wonderkids, no matter their age.
But they have also made a number of costly transfer mistakes that have come back to bite them, including choosing to throw money at players ready-made for the senior side.
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Ineos have splashed the cash on promising young players, such as Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon, but too many academy starlets are missing out on a chance to impress Ruben Amorim.
Now, one player who ticks plenty of boxes for Man United is impressing in the Championship, proving why the decision to allow him to leave for nothing was so disastrous.
Ruben Amorim reacts during the Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Former Man United academy graduate Ethan Galbraith impresses for Swansea City, tipped to play in the Premier League
Former Man United midfielder Ethan Galbraith bossed the show for his new club, Swansea City, in their 2-2 draw with Hull City on Saturday, and he looks destined to return to the Premier League.
Swansea paid around £1.5m to sign the Northern Irishman from Leyton Orient, and the deal looks a real bargain, especially after he racked up some impressive stats at the weekend.
The 24-year-old took 102 touches in total in a dominant midfield performance and kept Swansea ticking along with an 89% pass accuracy. He also recorded 11 passes into the final third.
Ethan Galbraith’s game by numbers vs. Hull:
102 total touches
89% pass accuracy
11 passes into the final third
6 ball recoveries
4 defensive contributions
2 attempted take-ons
2 successful take-ons
2 chances created
The #MUFC academy graduate will be in the Premier League… pic.twitter.com/V0rHugN1LV
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 13, 2025
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Galbraith was crucial defensively, too, making six ball recoveries and four defensive contributions.
His display makes the fact that he was handed just one senior appearance for Man United, which came against Astana in the Europa League group stage in the 2019-20 campaign, all the more mind-boggling.
Galbraith departed as a free agent in 2023 when his contract expired, but he would represent a savvy option for United this season, particularly in light of Micah Richards’ criticism of Ruben Amorim’s tactics.
Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith after the 2-2 draw with Hull City
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
Ethan Galbraith was Man United’s ‘best young player’, even compared to Andres Iniesta and Xavi
In August 2020, Galbraith was hailed as Man United’s standout starlet, with a source telling the Manchester Evening News: “He’s the best young player outside the core first-team group at the club.”
He received another rave review from former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough, who likened Galbraith to his country’s very own Andres Iniesta or Xavi.
Speaking in November 2020, Baraclough said: “Ethan, over the last six months, we’ve seen a maturity in his play and the way he goes about his work day to day.
“He’s excelled with the under-21s and he’s a different type of player to anyone we’ve got in the senior squad. Not to put too much pressure on his shoulders, but he’s our little (Andres) Iniesta or Xavi, someone who can get on the ball and manipulate the ball and find positive passes.”
With each passing week, Man United will surely regret the costly decision to let Galbraith leave more and more. Blessed with an all-round skillset, he looks the perfect man to fill the hole in Amorim’s leaky midfield.