Manchester United’s academy sides have had a great 2025 despite not winning any silverware.
This year, Manchester United’s academy has been criticised, but it is impossible to not be impressed with both the U18s and U21s among the very best in the country right now.
There has been plenty of change at the academy this year, from coaching staff to academy director Nick Cox leaving, while there has also been plenty of new players bursting onto the scene at higher age groups.
WHO is the most UNDERRATED academy talent at Manchester United right now? 🤔🔥
JJ Gabriel and Shea Lacey are obviously exciting but who else are you excited by?
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So with 2025 drawing to a close, we have ranked the top five players for the academy this calendar year, excluding anyone to have already made their first-team debut.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images5. Bendito Mantato
Bendito Mantato has long been considered one of the best young players at United and 2025 saw the 17-year-old prove exactly why, shining for the U18s and U21s in multiple positions.
As reward for his strong 2025, Mantato was on the first-team bench vs Aston Villa, with Amorim clearly a fan of the teenager having taken him on pre-season.
Mantato is always one of the best players on the pitch when he plays no matter the level, which is so impressive.
4. Amir Ibragimov
While currently out injured, Amir Ibragimov had a great 2025.
The Dagestan-born wonderkid was great last season for the U18s, making strides into the U21s as well, but the start of this season saw new levels.
Ibragimov has reinvented himself as a midfielder, changing from being a forward into an all-action number eight, which he was thriving in prior to injury. He was absolutely vital for the U18s and impressive wherever he was used.
3. James Scanlon
James Scanlon is a name that rarely gets talked about, but last season for the U18s, Scanlon was sensational, scoring the most goals of any player, with eight coming after the new year.
Scanlon hasn’t replicated this amount of output for the U21s yet, but he has five goal contributions this season for Travis Binnion’s side.
While still developing, Scanlon is likely to head out on loan in January with clubs lining up for his signature.
2. Gabriele Biancheri
For the past 24 months, Gabriele Biancheri has been arguably the best pure goalscorer within the ranks at United, scoring for fun at both U18 and U21 levels in 2025.
This season, he has been United’s top U21 scorer with seven, and arguably, the Welsh wonderkid has outgrown academy football, needing a greater challenge to continue his development.
Sum up Gabriele Biancheri’s goal scoring performance in one word…🏴
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Biancheri could do a job for United’s senior team right now with Benjamin Sesko struggling to score goals, but we anticipate that he might head out on loan in January. But regardless of what 2026 brings, he had a great 2025.
1. JJ Gabriel
There really couldn’t be any other answer for the top spot than JJ Gabriel, with the 15-year-old taking U18 football by storm since his debut at the end of last season.
Despite his young age, Gabriel has scored 12 goals already this season and earned himself recognition from Ruben Amorim.
Gabriel has featured in first-team training, and it seems inevitable that United will look to fast-track him as soon as possible to convince him to commit to the club. But as far as academy players in 2025 go, there were none better than the superkid.
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