Crystal Palace youngster Samuel Lusale appears to have confirmed his impending move to Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Palace bosses had high hopes for Lusale as he rose through the club’s academy ranks but the 17-year-old rejected the offer of a scholarship deal at Selhurst Park earlier this summer.
The teenage winger had been with Palace since the age of just 13 and was involved in Palace’s FA Youth Cup squad last season.
With regulations imposed by Brexit blocking English teams from signing youngsters from overseas, United’s new-look hierarchy – driven by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and sporting director Dan Ashworth – are intent on attracting the brightest young talent from academies on these shores.
Lusale follows the likes of Chido Obi-Martin, Camron Mpofu, Silva Mexes and James Overy in joining United’s academy in recent months.
The highly rated attacker announced his decision to leave the Eagles earlier this week, telling his followers on Instagram: ‘My journey with Crystal Palace comes to an end and a new door opens.
‘I will always remember the memories I made at Palace, and without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But now, we move on to the next chapter.’
The 17-year-old appeared to confirm his move to Old Trafford on Instagram
Lusale took to Instagram again this afternoon to share a picture of himself on a TV screen beside a Manchester United No.7 shirt displaying his name, along with an hourglass emoji.
The Red Devils are expected to officially announce Lusale’s arrival from Palace over the coming days.
Lusale was called up by Slovakia’s Under-18 side during the recent international break and produced an eye-catching performance in a 3-2 defeat to Wales, registering a goal and an assist on the eve of his 17th birthday.
After taking over as United’s sporting director in the summer, Ashworth said that building a productive and ‘thriving’ academy would be a ‘key objective’ of his job at Old Trafford.
‘Youth development has been a huge part of my career and I see it as a crucial element of success for any football club – but especially for Manchester United where homegrown players have such a rich history,’ he told the club’s official wesbite.
‘The success of our Under-18s during the 2023/24 campaign bodes well for the next generation of men’s talent coming through.
‘Overall, my first impression is the scale of opportunity available to us at Manchester United as we review and refresh all areas of the club.
‘This remains one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but that is not our measure of success; the focus is on getting back to being among the best on the pitch.
‘It won’t happen overnight, but, together with CEO Omar [Berrada] and his new leadership team, we will not rest until we have achieved it.’