Manchester United’s under-18 side are set for an FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City to conclude this season, with multiple standout players within the squad.
The Class of ’92 is among the most historic aspects of the Manchester United academy, with the level of quality and success from one year group unmatched.
However, Darren Fletcher’s Class of ’26 might have something to say about that in the coming hours and days, as they gear up to try and claim an FA Youth Cup triumph.
United take on City with the most prestigious youth tournament trophy in the world on the line.
But who are the stars of the class of 2026?
Are you confident Man Utd can beat Man City in the FA Youth Cup final? 🏆
Home and form advantage to City, but United won the last clash between the two…
Cameron Byrne-Hughes
The 2025/26 campaign started without a clear first choice in goal, but Cameron Byrne-Hughes has established himself over the course of this season to be a very talented young goalkeeper.
Byrne-Hughes is a goalkeeper suited to the modern game, very comfortable on the ball and willing to take responsibility at the back, while also being strong in traditional goalkeeping aspects.
Yuel Helafu
The rapid improvements of Yuel Helafu have impressed United staff, with his performances this season earning recognition from the first-team.
Helafu can do it all as a full-back, capable with and without the ball, and also in either an inverted role or more traditionally overlapping and getting to the byline.
Fletcher is a massive fan of him, using him inverted more and more as the full-back’s on-ball ability stands out. One to watch going forward.
Dan Armer
Dan Armer has been brilliant this season, taking leaps in his development on the ball and establishing himself as an impressive defensive prospect.
Most notably, Armer shares striking similarities with Harry Maguire, while his passing between the lines has become a deadly weapon for the under-18 side. His dominance aerially and in duels at this level are encouraging, but he probably lacks physicality right now to step up.
Albert Mills
One of the less hyped names within the class, Albert Mills, is every bit as important and has excellent qualities in his own right.
Mills has earned first-team training chances under Michael Carrick, and is another defender with all the tools to be a top division player in the future, depending on how his development is handled.
Mills was nominated for the U18 Premier League player of the year award, and he will be keen to sign off this season with a trophy.
Godwill Kukonki
On to one of the major standouts from the Class of ’26, Godwill Kukonki.
This season, Kukonki has been brilliant, placing himself right on the cusp of making his first-team breakthrough, having been named on the bench multiple times.
At 6ft 4in, Kukonki is a physically dominant defender who is also a strong ball carrier and passer, which makes him really well-rounded. Capable at left-back or centre-back, he has a very bright future and is probably one we can realistically expect to see promoted next season.
He might even make the jump in the final few weeks of this season, with this being his last year eligible for the under-18s.
Jim Thwaites
Similar to Kukonki, Jim Thwaites is another talent who has the potential to really get a foothold in the first team in the next 12 months.
Thwaites is the most technically gifted midfielder currently in the academy and should be considered an option to bolster the department this summer with a planned overhaul and increased workload next season.
Even without his wonderful ability to dictate play and find impossible passes, Thwaites’s dead-ball ability alone makes him a player worth having in the squad.
This will be his last season with the under-18s; don’t be shocked to see a jump to the senior side as Carrick has already shown interest in Thwaites. United’s very own La Masia midfielder.
Rafe McCormack
Currently in the midst of a breakout season for the under-18s, Rafe McCormack has managed to reinvent himself over the course of this season, settling into life as a midfielder.
The Irish youth international has been impressive as a ball-winning and simple-passing number six. He has certainly put himself into conversations around talented midfielders in the academy right now.
Jay McEvoy
Another midfielder in this group with lots of potential is Jay McEvoy, as he continues to add tools to his skillset, becoming a very well-rounded midfielder.
McEvoy has earned Roy Keane comparisons, boasting heavy tackling ability, slick passing, and an aggressive press, which often sees him involved closer to the opposition box.
The result of this has been McEvoy increasingly cropping up with goals.
Amir Ibragimov
After missing most of the season, Amir Ibragimov has been back in the fold recently and will play his part in the final.
Ibragimov has looked even better since returning from injury, adding muscle to his frame and playing with tremendous intensity in the midfield.
Ibragimov is capable of magic, but also does the dirty work so well. A vital cog in Fletcher’s team right now for his leadership and ability.
Nathaniel Junior Brown
Moving on to the wing, and the least talked about name is Nathaniel Junior Brown, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a special talent.
Brown is a right winger who has grown a lot this season, now capable of beating defenders inside and outside, can score and assist, and looks like a threat every time he gets the chance.
An exciting winger who is looking better and better as this season progresses, worth paying attention to as he could end up on the pre-season tour.
JJ Gabriel
The Ryan Giggs of this current class, JJ Gabriel needs little introduction, being a talent considered one of the best in the world for his age right now.
At 15, Gabriel is already tipped for pre-season with United and for good reason, as he boasts a ridiculous record in academy football, often making a mockery of under-18 football, which makes it likely he will be fast-tracked to the first team.
Gabriel is already a regular first-team trainer, with his performances in these sessions surprising players and staff, leading to Bryan Mbeumo’s praise, which shows how talented he is.
After his wonderful campaign, Gabriel was crowned the best U18 player in the country with the Player of the Season award.
Hard to see a world in which Gabriel doesn’t debut next season, as he will hope to break Max Dowman’s youngest scorer record in the Premier League.
Predict who will be the next Manchester United academy graduate…
Will Michael Carrick crown number 259 before this season ends?🤔
Noah Ajayi
A surprising breakthrough during this campaign has been Noah Ajayi, with the German youth star on fire in 2026, with his goal record ever improving.
Ajayi has become one of United’s best talents, with plenty of talk over his evolution and a potential step-up in the coming seasons, with his physical qualities meaning that it could actually come sooner than others.
The goals he is scoring at an under-18 level indicate he’s quickly getting too good, and so don’t be surprised if he is even knocking on the first-team door in the coming weeks, as United have wrapped up Champions League football already.
If not, a pre-season breakout is likely.
Louie Bradbury
One of the best strikers in the ranks of the academy is Louie Bradbury, and he is a talent among the most exciting in this class of ’26.
Bradbury is a Javier Hernandez-like forward, using excellent positioning and awareness to capitalise in the box, making him an inevitable goalscorer, with his lethal finishing also helping this.
A victim of Chido Obi dropping down for FA Youth Cup games, Bradbury will want to finish the season off with a bang and show why he could even be better than his teammate.
Chido Obi
The most experienced of the class of ’26, Chido Obi possibly shouldn’t be on this list, given he’s already played a chunk of first-team football.
Despite taking a step back this season, Obi still has potential to be a world-class striker, which United remains confident he will accomplish.
If he wins academy silverware this season, Obi will then be desperate for the challenge of first-team football either with United or on loan.
Obi has scored 20 goals this season across U21 and U18 levels, while becoming even more well-rounded, making him once again look like an excellent striker prospect.
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