Karim Cassim swaps Manchester City for United, bolstering the academy

Karim Cassim, 17‑year‑old English midfielder, leaves Manchester City to join Manchester United, swapping the victory over the Red Devils in the FA Youth Cup for a new role in the academy at Old Trafford. The announcement was made on Tuesday.

Transfer details and approval

Manchester United officially announced the signing of the midfielder, highlighting Karim Cassim’s age of 17 years. The transfer received the necessary approval from the Premier League so that the player can feature in the development categories of the club.

Cassim stood out in the youth ranks of Manchester City, where he made his debut for the Under‑18 team in January 2026. He was also called up to the English Under‑17 national team, reinforcing his international profile.

In the last cycle, he was part of the Cityzens squad that won the FA Youth Cup, beating Manchester United 2‑1 in the final. The victory marked the first time the rival had been defeated in the competition by the youth of Manchester City.

With the move, Cassim will initially join the academy of the Red Devils, training at the facilities of Old Trafford. The Premier League permission guarantees his participation in the development tiers of Manchester United.

The club announced the news on social media with the message: “A new home for Karim Cassim Welcome to Manchester United!”. The post was made on 24 September 2026, reinforcing the official nature of the transfer.

The swap illustrates how a youngster who helped defeat United in the Youth Cup now wears the red shirt, signalling the academy of the club reinforcement strategy. The next step will be the adaptation of Cassim to the new environment and competing for the first minutes in the youth categories.