Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement with highly rated academy winger Noah Ajayi over his first professional contract, in another positive development for the club’s youth setup.
According to a report by the Manchester Evening News on Saturday, September 19, 2026, the 17-year-old German winger has agreed terms with United and is now expected to officially sign the deal.
At the same time, the club are facing a very different situation with another highly rated academy prospect, JJ Gabriel, after reportedly rejecting the teenager’s request to be deregistered.
Ajayi has been part of Manchester United’s academy since joining the club in 2019. Having arrived at the age of 10, the youngster has steadily progressed through the youth ranks and has attracted interest from clubs in England and across Europe.
Sky Sports News correspondent Danyal Khan had previously reported that Ajayi was approaching an important decision over his future amid interest from elsewhere.
The winger has now reportedly decided to remain at Old Trafford and continue his development with United.
Ajayi has also undergone a significant physical transformation in recent years. Khan previously revealed that the teenager had experienced a major growth spurt and now stands at around 6ft 2in.
His performances for United’s youth teams have continued to attract attention, particularly after an impressive campaign last season.
The latest update comes from Manchester United-focused X account Sully Talkz, which claims that Ajayi and his representatives have agreed terms with the club over his first professional contract.
The Germany Under-19 international is now expected to complete the formalities and put pen to paper.
United are believed to be particularly pleased with the progress Ajayi has made over the past year, with his performances further strengthening his reputation within the academy.
The youngster played an important role in United’s run to the FA Youth Cup final last season under former midfielder Darren Fletcher, giving the club another reason to remain confident about his potential.
There could also be opportunities for Ajayi to get closer to senior football this season, with the winger potentially training with Michael Carrick’s first-team squad.
However, breaking into the senior side will not be straightforward. Ajayi’s preferred position is on the left side of the attack, where he faces competition from several established options.
While United appear close to securing Ajayi’s future, the situation involving JJ Gabriel is considerably more complicated.
The Red Devils have reportedly rejected Gabriel’s request to be deregistered from the club. If approved, the move could have opened the door for the highly rated teenager to leave United as a free agent.
ESPN previously reported that Manchester United had no intention of terminating Gabriel’s contract or releasing him despite the request.
Gabriel, who is currently 15 and will turn 16 next month, is reportedly in Barcelona as discussions continue over a potential move to the Catalan club.
Despite the interest, United have maintained their position and are unwilling to grant the youngster’s deregistration request.
Manchester Evening News correspondent Tyrone Marshall has also reported that the club intends to reject Gabriel’s request.
There is still a possibility that Gabriel could attempt to leave Manchester United on October 6, although such a move could require approval from FIFA.
The contrasting situations surrounding Ajayi and Gabriel show the different challenges Manchester United face when trying to keep hold of their most promising academy players.
While Ajayi appears set to continue his journey at Old Trafford by signing his first professional contract, United remain locked in a separate battle to determine Gabriel’s future amid interest from Barcelona.
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