The academy season is almost at an end, with Manchester United’s U21 and U18 sides into their final few games, each with silverware on the line.
After years of Manchester United’s academy not being competitive, this season has continued the recent campaigns of academy success.
United’s U18s face Man City in the FA Youth Cup final after a brilliant run, which unfortunately concludes on a smaller stage than deserved.
While the United U21s are in the Premier League 2 play-off semi-finals, taking on City as well at the Joie Stadium.
Ahead of these season concluders, we have picked 10 top performers for United across U21 and U18 for fans to vote on TalkingPoints to decide who had the best season.
Who has been Manchester United’s academy Player of the Season 2025/26?
We've collated a selection of the best performers across U18 and U21 football… Who has been best?
JJ Gabriel
The most obvious pick to be named academy player of the year is JJ Gabriel, who has quite simply ripped up the history books of academy football with how good he has been.
Gabriel has earned the attention of club legends, current players, and also the first team manager (Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher, and Michael Carrick).
He has been so good, United are planning to take Gabriel on tour despite him being 15. He looks like a certain first-team player for next season, and don’t be shocked to see him play a lot on tour.
The certain winner with his 25 goals and 7 assists for the U18s being history making.
Noah Ajayi
Gabriel’s teammate Noah Ajayi is another player of the season candidate for the academy, with his past four months in particular being special.
Ajayi has grabbed the spotlight from Gabriel on numerous occasions which isn’t easily done, but he’s done it through forceful, direct performances from the left-wing.
Capable of beating defenders with skill or pace and power, while his ball striking sets him apart, raising comparisons to Marcus Rashford.
Eight goals for Ajayi this season understate his excellence, and he is another academy forward that should be involved in pre-season.
Godwill Kukonki
This season has belonged to Godwill Kukonki, with the 6ft 5in centre-back reimagining himself as a left-back to devastating effect.
Kukonki was an awkward fit to begin, with United clearly trying to help him improve on the ball and it has worked.
The 18-year-old could now likely break through as a left-back, with his powerful runs down the flank, accompanied with close control and slick technical ability makes him a very unique profile.
Another potential debutant over the next 12 months.
Jim Thwaites
Without injury, Jim Thwaites might have found himself collecting more of the vote than he likely will here, but for the majority of the season he’s been Darren Fletcher’s main man.
Thwaites’ slick passing, press resistance, leadership, set-piece delivery and shooting along with his creativity all makes him a brilliant midfielder.
Thwaites is on the cusp of a United debut potentially as soon as this season, after making the squad against Chelsea.
At just 18, Thwaites could be ready to step up as United’s third midfield addition this summer.
Rafe McCormack
A player unlikely to get many votes but deserves nomination is Rafe McCormack, who goes completely under the radar.
McCormack moved into midfield under Darren Fletcher and hasn’t looked back, showing his quality as a number six with excellent defensive game and ever improving passing.
Next season he could really start staking a claim for his debut.
Shea Lacey
What are your expectations for Shea Lacey next season?
If he can stay fit surely he gets plenty of minutes…🤔
A first of the U21 regulars is Shea Lacey, who will surely win the club’s annual reserve player of the year award.
Lacey has managed to stay fit this season for the most part, which is the only thing that had been holding him back previously. The result has seen Lacey dominate U21 football, making his first-team debut and be considered a permanent part of the senior side.
In the coming weeks, Lacey should get more first-team minutes. But his 10 goals and 4 assists for the U21s should be remembered.
There is no doubt that he will be a first team player next season, likely to finish second only to Gabriel in this vote.
Dan Armer
Dan Armer has been excellent for Manchester United this season at centre-back for the U18s.
Often pushed into comparisons with Harry Maguire, he’s proven why this season with his passing through the lines often creating massive chances for his attackers.
He might not be close to a first-team debut, but Armer has shown enough to earn a strong loan next season or be a regular for the U21s.
Jack Fletcher
This season has seen Jack Fletcher debut under Ruben Amorim before heading back to the academy on a seemingly permanent basis.
But in an effort to return to the first-team, Fletcher has been playing so well at U21 level, proving himself to be above that level.
Fletcher has racked up seven goals and eight assists, which is an impressive record considering his suspension and first-team involvements.
Next season, Fletcher can’t be playing academy football and so either needs a loan or to get cup minutes as Bruno Fernandes’ understudy.
Chido Obi
Chido Obi won’t be happy with this season’s lack of senior opportunities, but despite taking a clear step backwards, it has been a productive campaign.
18 goals and eight assists across U21 and U18 football shows he still has his quality, while his overall game has came on leaps and bounds.
Next season, Obi is set to head on loan with European sides in the Eredivisie circling, and that could be a career defining move for him.
Yuel Helafu
One of the shocks of the academy season has been the rapid rise and development of Yuel Helafu at right-back.
Helafu has caught first-team coaches off guard with how good he has been, with comparisons to Noussair Mazraoui hard to ignore.
Fletcher has used Helafu as an inverted right back at times, which has seen him showcase how good he is on the ball.
Special player coming through.
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