16y/o pictured in travelling Man Utd squad for Arsenal game – report | OneFootball

Manchester United academy defender Godwill Kukonki has been pictured in the travelling squad to London for the Premier League game against Arsenal on Wednesday night, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The 16-year-old trained with the Red Devils first-team for the first time during the first session head coach Ruben Amorim oversaw, and he travelled with the team to Ipswich Town for the first game the Portuguese managed.

While he was not included in the matchday squad, Kukonki drew the attention of plenty Man United fans, and he has been a regular face at the training sessions since then.

Some at the Old Trafford club believe the teenage sensation could go on to make history by becoming the first defender to play for the Red Devils in the Premier League before turning 18.

Amorim and his coaching staff have loved what they have seen from Kukonki so far, and they have made him continue working with the first-team since then, excluding him from the Under-19s that travelled to the Netherlands for the first-leg of a UEFA Youth League qualifier against AZ Alkmaar last week.

It remains to be seen whether Kukonki will make the bench against Arsenal tomorrow, but he could make his Premier League debut before 18 and he turns 17 in February 2025.

He only signed a scholarship deal in the summer but is slowly establishing himself as a force to reckon with on the training pitch.

While he is primarily a centre-back, the versatile 6ft 5in Kukonki can also play at left-back, and Amorim will be looking to get the best out of him.

Having handed official first-team debuts to 27 players from the Sporting Lisbon academy during his time as their manager, the Portuguese will not hesitate to hand Kukonki a debut if he is sure he deserves it.

Article written by Alani .

This article was written by .