Manchester United Sign Isaac Konde from Liverpool Academy
Manchester United have struck a deal to sign 16-year-old Liverpool midfielder Isaac Konde, stepping directly into their rival’s talent pool as they continue to reshape the club’s youth ranks.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that United have reached an agreement with Liverpool, with the formalities wrapped up in the last 24 hours. Konde, a central midfielder, has featured six times for Liverpool in the Under-18 Premier League this season, registering one assist and catching the eye inside Kirkby’s academy setup.
For United, this is not an isolated move. It’s part of a broader reset.
United rebuild as exits open the door
The academy at Carrington has seen a steady flow of departures in recent weeks, forcing United to react quickly in the market. Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, moved decisively in the summer window, snapping up Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon from United on permanent deals.
Then came another exit. Highly rated 17-year-old striker Louie Bradbury left Old Trafford to join Stoke City, also on a permanent basis. He signed a two-year contract with the Championship club, which includes an option for an extra season covering the 2028/29 campaign.
United marked his departure with a detailed statement, underlining the regard in which Bradbury was held internally. The club highlighted his journey from Shrewsbury-born prospect to academy forward, joining at Under-14 level before earning his scholarship in 2025.
He made five appearances for the Under-18s in the 2024/25 season, including a debut off the bench for Adam Lawrence’s side in the FA Youth Cup fourth round. Last term, he hit eight goals in the Under-18 Premier League and also featured at Premier League 2 level. United closed the statement by wishing him well for the next stage of his career at Stoke.
Those departures have left gaps. Konde’s arrival is one answer.
Konde in, Page blocked
United’s academy recruitment drive has not been straightforward. Alongside the Konde deal, they pushed hard to land Leicester City youngster Louis Page, only to be left frustrated. Talks between the clubs failed to produce an agreement before the deadline, leaving the teenager to continue his development in League One.
So United turn to what they have secured: a 16-year-old midfielder from the academy of one of their fiercest rivals, stepping into a system currently being retooled from top to bottom.
The question now is simple: how quickly can Isaac Konde turn a cross-border raid into a long-term win for Manchester United’s future?
