Five former Man Utd prospects starting 2025 as free agents, including debutant goalscorer under Jose Mourinho

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Manchester United head into 2025 with fans no doubt hoping to see some more academy prospects merge under Ruben Amorim.

2024 didn’t exactly end well for Manchester United with five defeats in the last six Premier League games.

Ruben Amorim loves the backing from United fans but knows he needs to pick up results in 2025.

Amorim is still learning about his United squad and will be keen to go through some big changes this year.

That will include new signings but academy talents will always be on Amorim’s radar.

Amorim used young players at Sporting to great effect, handing out 27 debuts to academy players in Lisbon.

Amorim has taken a liking to Godwill Kukonki but the path to United stardom is not an easy one.

Here are five players who broke through at United but have now started 2025 as free agents… 

• READ MORE: Manchester United’s Best Academy Players of All Time

Brandon Williams

The most recent case, Brandon Williams joined the United ranks at just seven and rose all the way up through the ranks.

Williams played more than 50 first-team games for United and often impressed whether deployed at right or left back.

A 2021 loan move to Norwich City didn’t quite work out as hoped though and he managed just one first-team outing for United after returning from Carrow Road.

Former United coach Kieran McKenna attempted to get Williams back on track at Ipswich Town and he at least played a part in their promotion.

Williams said an emotional goodbye to United over the summer though, leaving at the end of his contract.

Rangers have been linked with Williams but the defender remains without a club at the age of just 24.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

Left back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson joined United at an even younger age, arriving in the youth ranks at just six.

Injuries meant Louis van Gaal called upon Borthwick-Jackson for first-team duty in the 2015-16 season.

Borthwick-Jackson certainly didn’t disgrace himself and made 10 first-team appearances before Van Gaal’s 2016 exit.

United handed Borthwick-Jackson a new deal in 2016 but he would never make another first-team appearance.

Loans to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Scunthorpe United, Tranmere Rovers and Oldham Athletic saw Borthwick Jackson gradually sliding down the pyramid.

United unsurprisingly released Borthwick-Jackson in 2020, paving the way for a permanent move to Oldham.

After two years with Burton Albion, Borthwick-Jackson joined Polish side Slask Wroclaw and spent the second half of last season on loan at Ross County.

Now a free agent after ending his Slask contract in August, Borthwick-Jackson will hopefully be back in the game soon enough.

Tyler Blackett

Another left-sided defender, Tyler Blackett started with Fletcher Moss Rangers – just like Borthwick-Jackson.

Blackett emerged in the United ranks and spent time on loan at Blackpool and them Birmingham City.

Louis van Gaal called on Blackett in 2014 though, handing him a chance on the left side of his back three.

Blackett filled in to cover injuries and managed 12 first-team appearances before a disappointing loan move to Celtic in 2015.

Blackett left United for Reading in 2016, joining forces with manager and former United defender Jaap Stam in the process.

Four strong years with the Royals – including a Championship play-off final appearance in 2017 – saw Blackett earn a move to Nottingham Forest in 2020, but he stayed there for just a year before joining FC Cincinnati, reuniting with Stam.

Blackett returned to England with Rotherham United in 2023 but was released after their relegation to League One.

Now available at 30, Blackett may attract interest as a left-sided defender.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
12	BrentfordBrentford	19	7	3	9	33	35	-2	24
13	West HamWest Ham	19	6	5	8	23	35	-12	23
14	Man UtdManchester United	19	6	4	9	21	26	-5	22
15	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	19	4	8	7	20	27	-7	20
16	EvertonEverton	18	3	8	7	15	24	-9	17

Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Arguably the most surprising free agent on the list, defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah joined the United ranks from Ajax at just 16.

There was considerable hype around Fosu-Mensah as a kid given his athletic ability as a centre back or right back.

Fosu-Mensah made his first-team debut under Louis van Gaal and ended up on two Premier League loan spells.

Crystal Palace and Fulham took Fosu-Mensah to give him first-team experience but he played just four Premier League games upon his return to Old Trafford.

United sold Fosu-Mensah to Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, allowing him to try his luck in Germany.

Fosu-Mensah only managed 30 first-team games though as Jeremie Frimpong became Leverkusen’s star right wing back.

Despite Leverkusen winning the Bundesliga title last season, Fosu-Mensah missed out on a medal due to his lack of playing time.

Leverkusen allowed Fosu-Mensah to move on at the end of his deal and the 27-year-old now finds himself without a club despite a trial with Como over the summer.

Josh Harrop

Scoring on your debut at Old Trafford is the dream for any Manchester United talent.

Josh Harrop made that dream a reality in 2017, scoring on his first start under Jose Mourinho against Crystal Palace.

Harrop scored the opener in a 2-0 victory over the Eagles on the final day of the 2016-17 season.

The Stockport-born talent had been highly regarded in United’s youth ranks and lived up to the hype with a superb goal.

Harrop then surprisingly decided to quit United, joining Championship side Preston North End on a permanent basis.

The playmaker had some highs at Deepdale, scoring eight times in the 2019-20 season before somewhat losing his way.

After loans with Ipswich Town and Fleetwood Town, Harrop was let go by PNE in 2022 and has since turned out for Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town.

Now 29, Harrop has been without a club since leaving Cheltenham at the end of last season.