Manchester United are set to sign 16-year-old Northern Irish midfielder Ethan Galbraith on a three-year deal, according to the player.
The defensive minded youngster, who currently turns out for Irish side Linfield’s U16 side, told the Irish Mirror that he signed a pre-contract with the Reds back in January after impressing during two trials which came after United scout Tony Coulter identified him as a potential talent.
“I went on a couple of trials last year after I was spotted playing for Linfield U16s. I must have done okay because United then offered me a contract in January,” Galbraith said.
“I signed the pre-contract in January and I will finally travel over to Manchester this weekend to live there and sign my full deal.
“It is one-year scholarship and then two-year pro deal. I will be playing with the Under 18s next season, but the big aim is to progress to the first team.”
Galbraith will be joining United’s U18 side for the next season, which is managed by fellow Northern Irish man Kieran McKenna, the 31-year-old former Tottenham coach taking charge of the Reds’ youngsters at the start of last season.
The U18s finished 4th in the U18 league north in the last campaign, behind the likes of fellow Premier League giants Chelsea, Arsenal and local rivals Manchester City, with their final fixture of the season a 4-2 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Captain of the Northern Irish U17 squad, and with appearances for the U18s, Galbraith will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen George Best, who made 361 appearances for United, Norman Whiteside (207 appearances) and more recently Jonny Evans (198 appearances).