Manchester United hand first professional contract to 17-year-old winger Noah Ajayi

Manchester United have signed teenage winger Noah Ajayi to his first professional contract, the club confirmed, describing the deal as “long-term” for the 17-year-old.

Ajayi was a consistent performer for Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s last season, finishing the campaign with nine goals across all competitions. While JJ Gabriel attracted much of the attention during United’s FA Youth Cup run, Ajayi contributed two goals in the competition as the young Reds reached the final.

The club’s official statement confirmed his importance to the academy setup: “Ajayi was a stand-out for Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s side last season, making important contributions to help the young Reds reach the FA Youth Cup final. Everyone at Manchester United is delighted that Noah has signed a new deal and looks forward to seeing him progress.”

Born in Hamburg, Ajayi has also represented Germany at youth international level and has already made appearances for United’s Under-21s, suggesting the club view him as a player capable of stepping up through the age groups quickly.

The announcement follows a busy period of academy business at Old Trafford. It comes a day after United unveiled Karim Cassim, signed from Manchester City, while David Eze is expected to be announced imminently and Isaac Konde has also joined from Liverpool.