Manchester United U18s start the 2026/27 season today at home against rivals Manchester City.
The fixture is a repeat of the season opener two years ago, and the clash between the two clubs has proven to be a title decider in recent years, with the Manchester clubs both finishing in the top two of the Premier League North for the last three years in a row.
As is the nature with U18s football, squad turnover is large from season to season as players move up age groups and look to break into senior football.
This season in particular will look very different for Darren Fletcher’s side, as last year’s player of the year, JJ Gabriel, is unlikely to feature as he moves into the U21s and first team, and other key players like Jim Thwaites and Amir Ibragimov have aged out.
So we take a look at three names that Manchester United fans should keep an eye on this season.
Jay McEvoy
With Jim Thwaites moving up to the U21s, McEvoy now has the chance to make the deep-lying midfield role his own. Capable of playing as a six or an eight, McEvoy isn’t shy to get forward either, scoring four goals and providing three assists in eight matches to finish the league campaign last year.
The Irish international’s goal tally included a brace against Liverpool, and he has kept his fine form flowing into pre-season with a pair of goals against Fulham and one against Tottenham Hotspur.
Jay McEvoy pulled the strings with 2 goals against Fulham U18s in a preseason friendly pic.twitter.com/ri4ac8srJF
— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) August 1, 2026
But despite his exploits in the final third, it is what he is capable of deeper in midfield that is perhaps the most impressive. An all-action midfield general, he is comfortable taking the ball on the turn in midfield and spraying passes between the lines.
Defensively, he doesn’t shy away from a tackle and brings a bit of old-school bite to the game that would make Roy Keane proud.
An Ireland U19s international, McEvoy has also represented Northern Ireland and attended an U15s England training camp in the past. With his talent, it is no surprise three different countries have been fighting for him.
Jaume Camacho
One of the 15 new first-year scholars stepping into Fletcher’s squad, Camacho already has two appearances for the U18s.
A versatile player, his high level of technical ability makes him a dependable player across a number of positions in midfield and even at full-back. Most recently, Camacho impressed at the Otten Innovation Cup in the Netherlands, where he scored two goals against SL Benfica and Adelaide United.
Operating in a more advanced number 10 role, he excelled by picking up spaces in between the lines, which consistently caused trouble for the opposition. Although not his more natural role, Camacho was arguably United’s best player at the tournament, which shows what he is capable of, and fans can expect even more when deployed in a more box-to-box role.
A dynamic midfielder, his high level of athleticism allows him to cover ground quickly while breaking into space and also to combat duels while out of possession.
His performances in the Netherlands will have earned him the trust of Fletcher to become a key figure in the upcoming season.
Ben Lyne
Another Irish talent coming through Carrington, Lyne joins McEvoy, Rafe McCormack, and Jacob Devaney on the conveyor belt of Irish talent to come through the United academy ranks in recent years.
Still only an U16, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see the 15-year-old become an U18s regular throughout the season.
As JJ Gabriel steps up to the U21s, the fight for the number nine shirt is wide open, with Lyne capable of snatching it from the grasps of Louie Bradbury and Camron Mpofu.
An explosive forward, Lyne’s speed makes him equally a threat from the left wing, where he likes to drift off the shoulder of the defender and break in behind the line. The youngster’s scoring exploits saw him score the match winner last season as United’s U15s raised the Premier League Floodlit Shield, and has continued into the summer where he impressed for the U16s at the SuperCupNI.
Scoring four goals in four starts, Lyne finished as United’s top goal scorer and capped off the tournament with a Panenka penalty to defeat Tigres and lift the SuperCupNI Globe.
Lyne was recently the subject of international speculation, being named in both Ireland and England U16s squads within a day of each other. The young forward chose Ireland, though, and captained them in a recent loss to Wales.
He subsequently missed out on Ireland’s second friendly against Wales, though, as he returned early to Carrington to be ready for the season opener.
The forward has previously attended an England U15s training camp but has since represented Ireland, where he has scored on his debuts at both U15s and U16s level.
For an overview of all of United’s new first-year scholars for the 2026/27 season, click here.
Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
