West Ham United have completed the signing of a Manchester United academy graduate who was released from Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo’s breakthrough into not only the Manchester United first team but also the England national team has led to some big praise for the teenager.
This time last year, Mainoo had yet to start a single Premier League game for the Red Devils but the 19-year-old is now surely in line to start the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday.
Another United academy graduate, in Alejandro Garnacho, has also reached a final for his country with Argentina reaching the final of the 2024 Copa America.
West Ham sign academy player released from United
Over the past 11 years, since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have had a habit of producing genuine world-class talent from their academy.
Whether it’s Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood or Mainoo now, United have been blessed with some superb talent coming through from their fantastic academy set up.
However, with the dearth of talent seemingly at United’s disposal from their academy, this makes it more likely that promising players slip through the cracks and are released from of the club.
One of these could be United’s academy striker Majid Balogun, who has departed Old Trafford and will join West Ham United.
The player posted on his Instagram a picture of him signing his contracts at the club with the caption of “back to it.”
Youngster Balogun had joined the Red Devils back in 2022, after his former side Lambeth Tigers confirmed the news of his decision to move to Old Trafford.
He made the bench for the club’s under 18s just once last season and will be hoping for more chances at the Hammers.
West Ham could have a gem on their hands
Balogun was seemingly showing some promise at Old Trafford but not enough for the bosses to hand him a professional contract.
The striker, who is just 16 years of age, has time on his side to develop and could well excel for West Ham in a different structure.
Whilst United have had some luck in the past with academy players breaking through into the first team, the Hammers will be hoping Balogun is one that has slipped through the cracks.
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