According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester United have completed the signing of Harley Emsden-James. The Southampton defensive sensation arrives at Old Trafford following the approval from the Premier League. While Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Tottenham were all keen on his signature, the Red Devils have managed to beat the competition.
Emsden-James has done wonders for Southampton at the youth level. The 15-year-old’s consistent performances for the EFL Championship club’s youth team have not gone unnoticed, and multiple top clubs have been monitoring him for some time.
Quite a few clubs knocked on the Saints’ door for his signature, but they kept turning down bids. While they were determined to keep hold of the young starlet, they ultimately allowed him to take the next step in his career with a move to Carrington.
Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Tottenham have all been scouting the teenage sensation for well over a year. The three Premier League clubs were eager to add him to their squad with an eye on the future. However, they have failed to acquire his services as Manchester United have already completed his signing.
The teenage sensation was an ideal fit for Chelsea and Tottenham’s project, which revolves around signing young players with massive potential. However, they have missed out on him and will have to now focus on other targets.
The Red Devils consider Harley Emsden-James a great prospect for the future, and they are excited to have him in their youth setup. Their recruitment team of Luke Fedorenko, Connar Hunter, and Jamahl Jarrett have been monitoring him for the last 12 to 14 months.
They had presented glowing reports about the 15-year-old, and on the back of it, Manchester United went all out to sign him. While he certainly cannot help the first team just yet, Emsden-James has the potential to be an important player for them in the long run.
The persistence of their recruitment team has paid off, and people at the club are confident that the former Southampton sensation has the potential to follow in the footsteps of rising stars like Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro.
