Manchester United’s first team might be itching for a reliable goalscoring option, but the academy’s ranks just keep getting richer as another prodigy has risen to the occasion.
After signing Chido Obi last season, who lit the academy on fire, taking on the mantle from Ethan Wheatley, who himself took it from Joe Hugill, the next up is equally as exciting, if not more.
This is in addition to the likes of Gabriele Biancheri, who’s scoring for fun in the youth ranks and has deserved a breakout as well.
The player who could usurp them all, at least in terms of his scoring in the academy, is set for a big season with the U18s, which he has started on fire.
Louie Bradbury can’t stop scoring
Louie Bradbury is a name that has shot to relevance in the last season or so, and 2025/26 will be his first one where he’s a full-time member of the U18s squad.
Bradbury gained fame for being United’s “next Chido Obi” when he scored 40 goals across all competitions in the 2023/24 season, according to his own words.
Since then, Bradbury has made his U21s debut and taken his goalscoring form to the international level too, where he’s scored for Wales U17s for fun.
As per the Daily Mail, he built on his 2023/24 exploits by going one better in 2024/25, scoring 41 goals for the academy side, one of which came for the U18s side.
They wrote back in May: “Young academy striker Louie Bradbury is one to watch heading into next season. The Under 16s forward finished the season with 41 goals and has a number of landmarks to look back on.”
Now a permanent member of the U18s side, he has picked up in 2025/26 from where he left off in 2024/25, scoring twice in United U18s’ second pre-season friendly against Norwich.
This is after Bradbury scored in the first game as well, an 8-2 thrashing of QPR to kick off Darren Fletcher’s reign in fine fashion.
Louie Bradbury’s potential pathway at Man Utd
Bradbury is turning 17 in September, and there’s no reason why he won’t sign a professional contract at Old Trafford, so that is a formality at this stage.
United trusted him with a U21 appearance when he was just 16, so the club has shown faith in him repeatedly, which he has repaid.
Expect Bradbury to remain with the U18s this season, with an occasional appearance for the U21s as and when the striking numbers require.
If he keeps up this level of goalscoring for the U18s throughout the season, then Ruben Amorim might be left with no choice but to consider him for a pre-season berth next season.
Obi has already shown that age is just a number if you’re good enough, and Bradbury’s numbers have rivalled Obi’s so far, albeit with the U16s.
If he can rival those numbers at the U18s level as well, he might well be on the same fast-track path as the Danish wonderkid.
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