Forgotten Man United striker Kana-Biyik gets first-team chance after Swiss loan

Enzo Kana-Biyik is back at Manchester United’s Carrington training complex this season after a developmental loan spell at Ineos-owned Lausanne Sport in Switzerland, with the club opting to keep the young French striker in Manchester rather than send him out again.

United signed Kana-Biyik on a free transfer last summer and immediately dispatched him to Lausanne, meaning most supporters have had little chance to form an impression of him. That is set to change in 2026/27, when he will train alongside the first team and represent the Under-21s — a path the club believes suits his development better than a drop into the lower reaches of English football.

The decision to keep him close was partly shaped by practical concerns. Kana-Biyik spoke little English when he arrived and, according to the club’s thinking, would have struggled in the demanding environment of, say, League Two. He has since taken language lessons and is now better equipped for life in England.

His loan record at Lausanne was modest but not without promise. He made 26 appearances — only six from the start — with a knee injury sustained in pre-season costing him the opening weeks of the campaign and ruling him out of Lausanne’s UEFA Conference League qualifiers. His two direct contributions, a goal against FC Sion and an assist against Fiorentina in Europe, both came when he was handed a starting berth.

“It’s beautiful, it feels good. I feel a bit liberated,” Kana-Biyik told Swiss outlet Blick after scoring against Sion. “The most important thing was to celebrate with my teammates and the fans.”

The assist against Fiorentina offered a glimpse of his technical ability: Kana-Biyik drove down the left wing, beat his marker and delivered a precisely weighted cross to the unmarked Lausanne forward at the back post.

The international break gave him an early opportunity to make an impression on United’s interim coaching staff. With the majority of senior players away on international duty, Kana-Biyik featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against his former club Lausanne at Carrington, watched by Michael Carrick and his staff alongside several other young players pushing for recognition.

Whether Kana-Biyik can translate his Swiss experience into consistent performances at Under-21 level — and eventually attract first-team attention — remains to be seen, but United’s decision to keep him in-house signals a degree of belief in his long-term potential.