Manchester United Sign Liverpool Academy Winger Isaac Konde
Manchester United have completed a deal to sign Liverpool academy winger Isaac Konde, with the 16-year-old set to leave Merseyside for Old Trafford.
Konde, who mainly plays from the left, will join United’s youth ranks after progressing quickly at Liverpool. He is due to turn 17 next month but has already featured for Liverpool’s Under-18 side.
His first task at United will be to settle into Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 squad and push for further promotion through the academy pathway.
United continue academy recruitment drive
The move is another example of United targeting leading young players at domestic rivals. The club have already recruited Ayden Heaven and Chido Obi from Arsenal’s academy.
Heaven has made the strongest immediate impact. The 19-year-old defender has played 25 times for the senior side since arriving from Arsenal in February last year, with 22 of those appearances coming in the Premier League.
Obi’s progress has been less straightforward. The Danish forward made eight first-team appearances in the 2024-25 season, but his development slowed last term. He has now joined Willem II on loan for the current campaign in an effort to regain momentum.
United are also sending 20-year-old Mali midfielder Sekou Kone out for senior experience. He has moved to Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland on a season-long loan.
Senior squad concerns remain
While United have invested heavily in midfield, signing Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, questions remain over the defensive depth available to the first team.
Luke Shaw is currently the only specialist left-back viewed as a regular starting option. That lack of cover could create an opening for Diego Leon, the Paraguayan youth international signed initially as a development prospect, should injuries hit the defence.
Konde’s arrival is not expected to alter those immediate senior plans. The winger will first be assessed in Fletcher’s academy group, with a rapid adjustment potentially putting him on a fast track through United’s youth sides.
