Manchester United pull off surprise swoop on Liverpool’s 16‑year‑old Isaac Konde

Manchester United have secured the signing of 16‑year‑old Liverpool winger Isaac Konde, a move announced on 24 September 2026, as the Red Devils continue to reinforce their academy with highly rated prospects.

Scholarship deal and future contract

According to The Athletic, Konde has agreed to a one‑year scholarship at Old Trafford that will automatically convert into a five‑year professional contract when he turns 17, because players cannot sign professional terms before that age.

Compensation talks and seven‑figure valuation

The two Premier League clubs are currently negotiating a compensation package for the academy prospect, with Liverpool reportedly expecting a seven‑figure fee; should talks fail, a Premier League tribunal would decide the amount.

United’s broader youth recruitment strategy

Konde joined Liverpool in 2018 as an under‑nine and progressed through the club’s youth system, making six appearances for the Under‑18 side last season and registering one assist while impressing with his pace and direct running.

United’s youth push intensifies as Cassim arrives and Konde is targeted

Primarily a winger, the teenager has also been deployed in midfield and as a forward, giving United plenty of options as he prepares to link up with Darren Fletcher’s Under‑18 squad at Old Trafford in Trafford.

The signing fits United’s wider strategy of poaching promising teenagers from rival academies; the club has already added David Eze from Manchester City and midfielder Karim Cassim, also a recent acquisition.

For Konde, the move offers a chance to develop at one of English football’s biggest clubs, while United hope the versatile winger can eventually become a first‑team option for the Red Devils.

United’s aggressive pursuit of youth talent underscores the growing competition among top clubs to secure the next generation of England’s football stars.