Manchester United have stepped up business in the transfer market in recent days.
The move to bring Bryan Mbeumo to Old Trafford is almost complete, securing Manchester United’s second major transfer of the summer.
New signing Matheus Cunha impressed in the club’s first pre-season friendly against Leeds, with several young players involved.
One youngster who was not under consideration was Joe Hugill, scorer in the 2024 pre-season game against Rangers. This was because he has now been sent out on loan.
Joe Hugill signs on loan with Barnet
Young striker Joe Hugill has become the latest Manchester United player to go on loan, following Dan Gore, Habeeb Ogunneye, Sonny Aljofree and Enzo Kana-Biyik.
Hugill has joined Barnet on loan, who will be playing in League Two after winning promotion from the National League in 2024/25.
Their manager Dean Brennan is optimistic about the deal, claiming Hugill has a mix of qualities he was looking for, and compared him to two former Premier League strikers.
Brennan told Barnet’s website: “We’ve been after this type of player for a long time. Even though he’s tall, his movements and attributes are all in behind.
“He’s got pace, excellent finisher, very dynamic – we want him to look down the barrel of the goal.
“He’s such an exciting player, he’s like a Jamie Vardy, Michael Owen type.”
Joe Hugill compares himself to Jamie Vardy
Manchester United signed Joe Hugill from Sunderland in 2020 when he was just 16, and he has been working his way through the academy since.
Hugill is at the stage where he is too good for under-21 football, but is still trying to find a path beyond that, yet to make his Manchester United debut.
In the past he has been out on loan at Altrincham, Burton Albion, Wigan Athletic and Carlisle United. And while Hugill has scored in each of these loan spells, success has been fleeting.
Hugill acknowledged that his loans have been inconsistent so far, and says he is stronger for it: “I think it’s kind of matured me as a person. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I think I’m ready for this one, and I’m ready to get going.”
He says he is looking for consistent playing time, commenting on his targets: “I think it’s just obviously playing a lot of games, scoring a lot of goals is the main thing for a striker, but I’m still pretty young – still 21 – so I think it’s just getting the games under my belt and having a really good season.”
Asked about his strengths, Hugill also mentioned a former Leicester City hero: “Similar [to] Jamie Vardy, I like to play on the shoulder in behind, using my pace in behind, like those poacher’s finishes in the box.”
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