Manchester United’s academy has done a superb job of providing the first-team squad with a heap of talent and helping them achieve various levels of success.
The current injury situation has allowed the likes of Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi to showcase their ability and stake their claim for a regular role under Ruben Amorim.
Both of the youngsters featured in the squad during the draw against their former side after moving to Old Trafford in the summer, potentially having a huge part to play in the future.
Ayden-Heaven-Man-United
They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and David Beckham, who were part of the Class of 92, enabling the club to endure their success in the Premier League.
One other player in the current first-team endured a rise through the Carrington academy system, making himself a crucial member of the starting eleven in recent years.
Alejandro Garnacho’s stats for Man Utd
Winger Alejandro Garnacho moved to United for £500k back in October 2020 from Atlético Madrid, originally linking up with the academy side - helping them win the FA Youth Cup in 2021/22.
The Argentine has since made the jump to the first-team, registering 129 appearances over the last four years, becoming a key member of the side under Erik ten Hag and new manager Amorim.
Garnacho-Man-United
The 20-year-old has racked up 23 goals and 16 assists since his debut, but having to adapt his playstyle to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, forcing him to play in a more central role than his preferred wide one.
He’s yet to find the back of the net in 2025 but has also been the subject of interest from fellow English side Chelsea in January, with the Red Devils demanding a fee in the region of £55m for his services.
Despite the huge fee and huge rise he’s endured, one other academy star was ahead of him in the pecking order at Old Trafford, but former boss Ten Hag decided to offload him during his time at the club.
The former United star who was ahead of Garnacho but left for £1.5m
There’s no denying that Garnacho has been a star over the last few years, often being the player to procure the goods in what has been a dismal period for United on and off the pitch.
However, his place in the first team could’ve been handed to Tahith Chong had the Dutchman continued on the trajectory he was on as a youngster at Old Trafford.
tahith-chong-united
The winger joined at the age of 16 from Feyenoord, moving into the academy side, utilising the same route as Garnacho in biding his time at youth level before making the jump up to the senior ranks.
He featured 67 times at various youth levels, scoring 28 times - a record that would catapult him into the first-team in 2018, making 16 appearances during an 18-month period.
Manchester United's starting XI vs Reading for Tahith Chong's debut
22. Sergio Romero
20. Diogo Dalot
36. Matteo Darmian
4. Phil Jones
18. Ashley Young (C)
39. Scott McTominay
15. Andreas Pereira
17. Fred
8. Juan Mata
9. Romelu Lukaku
7. Alexis Sanchez
Stats via Sky Sports
Chong was part of the side that produced a miraculous comeback against PSG in the Champions League back in 2018/19 - undoubtedly one of the highlights of his time in Manchester.
The attacker, who was dubbed a “superstar” talent by journalist Rich Fay, would endure three separate loan spells at Werder Bremen, Club Brugge and Birmingham City before joining the latter for £1.5m in 2022.
His career has failed to take off since, moving to Luton Town in the summer of 2023, linking up with the Hatters for their maiden Premier League campaign - scoring four times in his 33 matches.
However, he’s been tormented with injuries this campaign, featuring just twice in 2025, with the 25-year-old way below the levels anticipated from him after his emergence at Old Trafford.
It’s a shame that he’s been unable to kick on after his permanent departure a couple of years ago, with the Dutchman another player who has been plagued with setbacks.
He certainly could’ve been a player still featuring in the first-team ahead of Garnacho had everything panned out the way he would’ve liked, but ultimately, Chong still has time on his hands to revive his once-promising career.
Bruno-Fernandes-Man-Utd Related
INEOS have struck gold on Man Utd star who's now worth as much as Bruno
Man Utd are reaping the rewards of one signing from the INEOS regime thus far