One of the main reasons why Manchester United has faithfully stood behind manager Ole Gunnar Solskjär is that he definitely buys into the club’s core philosophies, one of which is the development and development of home-grown young talent.
United have a remarkable record spanning more than 83 years since appointing at least one home-grown player in each individual match group since October 1937, a run that shows no signs of slowing down as a result of the recent harvest of emerging talent.
Solskjaer has remained very loyal to it and has given United a debut for 13 players and bills that have risen through the club’s youth ranks.
Tahith Chong was the first academy candidate Solskjaer submitted a Man Utd debut to | Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Debut: vs Reading, January 5, 2019
Age at onset: 19
Dutch winger Tahith Chong was the first academy player Solskjaer handed a senior debut to, including the teenager in his some of his earliest squads after taking over as interim coach.
After being an unused substitute under Jose Mourinho, Chong rose from the bench in an FA match in the third round against Reading at Old Trafford. His career development has since taken him on loan to Werder Bremen and Club Brugge.
Sunshine is a big fan of James Garner’s TONY ASHBY / Getty Images
Debut: against Crystal Palace, 27 February 2019
Age at onset: 17
Similar to Michael Carrick, midfielder James Garner was on the fringes of the first team team when Mourinho was in charge in the summer of 2018. But it was relatively soon after Solskjaer took over that the player got his first chance to compete.
Garner is still highly ranked at Old Trafford and has impressed both Watford and Nottingham Forest who loaned out in the 2020/21 championship.
Mason Greenwood was 17 when he made his debut in Man Utd against PSG | Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Debut: against Paris Saint-Germain, 6 March 2019
Age at onset: 17
Mason Greenwood was only 16 when he traveled with United in Mourinho’s final preparation group in the summer of 2018. He continued to make his competitive debut at 17 when Solskjaer turned to him with the team in need of a goal in the famous comeback against PSG.
The young forward got his first senior start in a United shirt on the final day of that season and went on to score 17 goals in a breakout 2019/20 campaign. He is now a well-established first timer.
Brandon Williams gained an unexpectedly rapid rise in 2019/20 | Alex Livesey / Getty Images
Debut: against Rochdale, September 25, 2019
Age at onset: 19
Brandon Williams had been in the traveling squad for the PSG game when Greenwood made his debut but did not get on the bench at the time. He was then thrown into the first team himself in September 2019 and played 36 times in all competitions over the next few months.
Born and raised in Manchester, Williams was rewarded for his rapid development with a new long-term contract at Old Trafford in August 2020.
Ethan Laird still has a potential bright future at Man Utd | STRINGER / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 18
The impressive defender Ethan Laird made two senior appearances for United during the 2019/20 season, first as a starter in the youngest team named in a Europa League game away in Kazakhstan and later from the bench in another European competition against AZ Alkmaar.
Laird has trained with the first team and agreed to MK Dons on loan in January 2021 and gained invaluable experience of the League One side as a regular start.
Dylan Levitt is a full Wales international Charlotte Tattersall / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 18
Dylan Levitt had actually been called up for senior international service by Wales manager Ryan Giggs several months before making his professional bow for United.
The midfielder was one of several academy debutants involved in the 2019 trip to Kazakhstan and played all 90 minutes. Since then he has spent time on loan with Charlton in League One and the Croatian club Istra in 1961.
Di’Shon Bernard scored an own goal on his Man Utd debut | Jan Kruger / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 19
Di’Shon Bernard started for United in midfield together with Axel Tuanzebe against Astana, although his evening was unfortunately exposed with an own goal in the 2-1 defeat.
In search of regular chances to help his development, Bernard made the short trip to Salford City on loan in the autumn of 2020 and has played regularly in League Two for the club.
D’Mani Mellor came off the bench in Kazakhstan | Charlotte Tattersall / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 19
D’Mani Mellor was on the bench in Kazakhstan and got the chance to play almost half an hour by Solskjär when he replaced Chong on the right flank.
Mellor comes from Manchester and had already been with United in the youth ranks for a long time when he got the chance to make his debut.
Largie Ramazani has since left Man Utd | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 18
Belgian winger Largie Ramazani was another academy player who made his United debut against Astana in November 2019 and replaced Garner in the final minutes of the game.
He received high marks in the youth rankings and United offered him a new contract in 2020 to stay at Old Trafford, but Ramazani chose to reject the deal in search of senior opportunities elsewhere. He ended up joining Spanish second tier Almeria.
Ethan Galbraith has already played for Northern Ireland | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Debut: vs Astana, 28 November 2019
Age at onset: 18
Midfielder Ethan Galbraith had a high international cap for Northern Ireland to his name when he made his United debut from the bench in the Europa League against Astana.
Hungary has added to its international spirit and has so far remained at United to continue to develop in the U23 squad, although he was also included in the first team bench in February 2021 for a home game against Real Sociedad.
Teden Mengi is very highly ranked by Man Utd staff Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Debut: vs. LASK, August 5, 2020
Age at onset: 18
Teden Mengi made the trip to Kazakhstan with United’s other young talents in just 17 years but was left on the bench. He got his chance in the delayed Europa League knockout round against LASK in August 2020 and was later selected in a handful of other match day teams.
The very highly ranked midfielder was allowed to join Derby on loan in January 2021 and, still so young, has been able to gain decisive experience at a good level in the championship.
Dean Henderson made his debut at Man Utd as recently as September 2020 | Pool / Getty Images
Debut: vs Luton, 22 September 2020
Age at onset: 23
Although a well-established Premier League star thanks to a very successful loan at Sheffield United, goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the 12th academy candidate to make his United debut for Solskjaer.
Henderson initially got his chance at United as a domestic goalkeeper and later in the Europa League, but has given tough competition to David de Gea and is really competing for the number one jersey before the 2021/22 season.
Shola Shoretire is one of Man Utd’s youngest players ever Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Debut: against Newcastle on 21 February 2021
Age at onset: 17
Shola Shoretire was awarded a United debut by Solskjaer less than three weeks after celebrating his 17th birthday and signing his first professional contract with the club.
He came off the bench against Newcastle in a Premier League game before setting a new record as United’s youngest player ever in a European competition against Real Sociedad – breaking the previous record held by Norman Whiteside since 1982.
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