Manchester United have offered Wayne Rooney son Kai a new deal, marking another important step in his football journey. The 16-year-old attacker has spent several years in United’s academy and is now closing in on a formal scholarship as the club assesses his long-term potential within its long-term youth development strategy.
Kai, who finishes school this summer, sits among a group of 14 academy players who have received new contract offers from United. The club reportedly views the group as one of its strongest intakes in recent years, underlining confidence in their development pathways and overall academy structure.
Scholarship offer could lead to professional contract
Manchester United have offered Kai a one-year scholarship that would allow him to enter full-time football education at Old Trafford. If agreed, the deal would later become a three-year professional contract once he turns 17, provided coaches meet performance targets across multiple age-group development levels.
Sources value the proposed professional terms at around £50,000 per year, including an annual signing-on fee structure agreed. At this stage, the Rooney family have not yet committed to the offer, with discussions ongoing ahead of the July deadline. Families of the academy players are under no obligation to accept United’s proposals and remain free to explore opportunities at other clubs both domestically and abroad.
FA Youth Cup debut highlights rapid development
Kai’s progress has already seen him step up to Manchester United’s under-18 side despite being just 16. He made his FA Youth Cup debut last month, coming on as a substitute during a 2-1 victory over Derby County at Old Trafford.
The occasion carried added significance, with Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick both in attendance. Carrick’s son Jacey is also part of the academy group offered new deals, continuing a strong connection between former United players and the club’s youth system.
Kai previously made his under-18s debut in August last year at the age of 15, fittingly against Everton, the club where his father began his professional career.
Wayne Rooney reflects on pride and perspective
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, the former England captain admitted the Youth Cup appearance brought back memories of his own youth career. Rooney revealed that Kai’s first reaction after the game was a simple one, commenting on the sheer size of the Old Trafford pitch.
Despite his pride, Rooney has repeatedly urged caution when assessing his son’s future. In conversations with Gary Neville on The Overlap, he described Kai as a natural goalscorer but stressed that it remains too early to judge whether he will reach the highest level.
🚨🚨| NEW: Manchester United have offered Kai Rooney a one-year scholarship, which would then convert into a three-year professional contract worth around £50k per year, plus an annual signing-on fee. At this stage, it is understood the Rooney family have not yet agreed to the… pic.twitter.com/tDEy1KhMyO
— centredevils. (@centredevils) February 5, 2026
Kai determined to create his own identity
Kai himself has spoken about the challenge of carrying a famous surname. In an interview last year, he made clear his desire to be judged on his own performances rather than comparisons with his father or expectations.
He admitted managing external pressure is part of the process but insists his focus remains on steady improvement and personal development. That mindset has been encouraged by his family, who have taken steps to shield him from unnecessary attention during his early years in academy football.
United academy tradition continues
There have been Busby Babes and Famed Class of ’92s, generations of first-team stars that Manchester United’s academy has turned out. The club still heavily focuses on youth development, and Kai Rooney’s progress is testament to that tradition at the club.
With a judgment on his scholarship anticipated by July, Kai now stands at a crossroads as not Wayne Rooney’s son, but as an aspiring young player trying to make his own way at Old Trafford in the years to come.
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