Manchester United poach three teenage academy prospects from Liverpool and Man City

Manchester United are closing in on three academy signings from their domestic rivals, with Liverpool’s Isaac Konde set to follow David Eze and Karim Cassim — both poached from Manchester City — through the doors at Carrington this summer.

Konde, 16, has chosen to leave Liverpool’s Melwood training base for United, where he is expected to link up with Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 squad once his move receives Premier League ratification. The forward is the latest in a string of high-profile academy recruits the club have targeted from rival sides.

Eze, also 16, is a defensive midfielder who adds depth to United’s youth ranks. Born in Dublin, he holds a European passport but has already represented England at Under-16 and Under-17 level. The Premier League has formally ratified his move from City.

Cassim, another 16-year-old midfielder, was inadvertently revealed as a United signing last month when he appeared on the bench during MUTV’s coverage of the Under-18s’ win over Charlton. United sources indicated at the time that some administrative steps remained, but paperwork was filed alongside Eze’s and ratification is expected imminently.

The trio of signings reflects a deliberate recruitment strategy shaped by post-Brexit rules, which largely restrict United’s academy to UK-based talent. Unable to cast the net as wide internationally as they once could, the club have instead focused on identifying and attracting the best young players from within the country — including those developed at their fiercest rivals.

While City and Liverpool have dominated English football over the past decade at senior level, United’s academy continues to draw promising teenagers, with the club pointing to its development pathway as a key selling point for prospective signings.