Manchester United academy striker Louie Bradbury joins Stoke City on permanent deal

Manchester United have confirmed that academy striker Louie Bradbury has completed a permanent move to Championship club Stoke City, signing a two-year deal understood to include an option for a further 12 months.

The 17-year-old Shrewsbury-born forward spent four years at Old Trafford after joining at Under-14 level, scoring 10 goals in 26 appearances for the Under-21s. He also made five appearances for the Under-18s during the 2024/25 season and scored in a 3-0 win over Everton just days before his departure.

An official United statement confirmed Bradbury “earned his scholarship with the club in 2025” and made his Under-18 debut as a late substitute in the FA Youth Cup fourth round. He also represented Wales Under-19s during the summer, featuring in matches against Denmark and Spain.

Stoke academy director Jack Higgins welcomed the signing, saying: “We are delighted to bring Louie to the club, adding to the crop of exciting strikers we have within the U18s and U21s. Louie joins us at a good age to continue his development and thrive in our environment after some brilliant experiences with Manchester United during the past few years.”

Bradbury’s exit is the second teenage departure from United in as many days, following midfielder Gabriele Biancheri’s permanent switch to Austrian second-division side FC Wacker Innsbruck.

The summer window also saw full-back Habeeb Ogunneye and winger James Scanlon leave United for Arsenal, while the club’s pursuit of Leicester City teenager Louis Page ended without agreement, with the forward remaining at the League One club.