The option to extend Manchester United defender Ethan Laird’s contract by one year has been triggered.
Ethan Laird has spent the entirety of the 22/23 season on loan at QPR, where he had been impressive in spells. He made 30 starts in the Championship, only missing the end of the season through a hamstring injury.
The flying full-back has been at United since the age of 10 and has previously featured for the Red Devils’ first team, making his debut against Astana in the Europa League 19/20 campaign, and made another appearance against AZ Alkmaar.
United clearly see something in the 21-year-old, which is why it’s been reported that they have chosen to extend the young man’s contact extension.
Ethan Laird’s contract has been extended
The Manchester Evening News understands that Laird is technically out of contract at the end of the month, but the club have the option to extend his stay at Old Trafford by a further year.
The outlet claims this extension has been exercised and Laird will be at the club for another year at the very least.
The one-year contract renewal means the academy product is with the club until the summer of 2024.
After his summer break, the 21-year-old will be assessed in pre-season and then a choice will be made as to whether he will go back out on loan. United could still look to sell this summer if a suitable offer came in.
If he did stay, he would have stiff competition in the right-back slot, with Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka currently ahead of him, while Marc Jurado is also making his way through.
Laird’s performances in the Championship were a bit of a mixed bag. He was deemed by then QPR boss Neil Critchley in December 2022 to have had a ‘fantastic’ season, but he did struggle to replicate his form in 2023, with fitness issues raising their head.
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