Manchester United are using the loan market very well this month, and now Ethan Wheatley can be added to the departure list.
It has been a busy month for those arranging loan moves for Manchester United.
Before this month, the United academy had several loan candidates, and a handful have headed out already this month.
Ethan Ennis was the first, heading to League Two side Doncaster Rovers. The Liverpudlian was quickly followed by Joe Hugill who headed to Carlisle.
Ethan Williams has also departed on loan, joining Cheltenham. Now U21 striker Ethan Wheatley is also heading on loan.
- READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2025, ins, outs, loan moves, deadline date
Ethan Wheatley loan to Walsall confirmed
Saturday has brought the news that one academy graduate has been longing for all season long.
Wheatley has been expected to depart on loan for months, and after links with League One Wrexham and also shockingly the second division in the Netherlands.
However, it is League Two Walsall who have snapped up Wheatley on loan until June.
This is a very good placement for Wheatley, with Walsall flying towards promotion – so he will get plenty of goal-scoring chances and a real opportunity to lay down a marker and earn a higher loan for next season.
Wheatley will wear number 36 for Walsall and could make his debut on Saturday against Bradford City.
The 19-year-old explained his delight over the move to the Saddlers, speaking with Walsall club media.
“It is my first loan so I am very excited to get going,” Wheatley began. “The Club is currently top of the league so I am coming into a winning environment and I am looking forward to that and hopefully we can kick on for the rest of the season and I can help the team to do good things.
“I had interest from other places but they didn’t have as many games left in the season and a big thing for me is earning game time and trying to play as much as possible in the men’s game and hopefully I can do that and stamp my mark and impress.
“Manchester United set us up for work experience loans previously where we would go to different clubs for a week at a time so I have had a fair few experiences of being around a first-team environment now so I am looking forward to settling into this one and hopefully doing well.”
‘Incredible’ Wheatley lauded by his new manager Mat Sadler
As Walsall announced Wheatley, his new boss Mat Sadler was full of praise for United’s striking wonderkid who was sensational for the academy in 2024.
“I have known Ethan for some time and he is a player that I have admired for some time as well.
“He is very quick, he’s a big lad and he wants to score goals so he is someone that I am really looking forward to working with on his first loan and I am looking forward to being part of his development.
“He is exactly our type of player, he’s an incredible athlete and he’s the type of player that we like working with and developing.
“We have had to remain patient for this one, we have had to wait to get him in and I am delighted that he is here.
“I want to thank everyone at Manchester United for allowing us to be part of the development of Ethan and I am looking forward to seeing him for the remainder of the season with us here.”
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