Man Utd's new youth focus is a big gamble as women's football evovles | OneFootball

It's been another game-changing summer in women's football, with giants like Barcelona needing a complete refresh at Michele Kang's sides making big moves. But one team has turned its attention to youth: Manchester United. Whether it's a cost-cutting measure or a savvy long-term strategy, could it work?

The recent departure of Marc Skinner is a big development for the Red Devils. On the one hand, Skinner was rightly frustrated by his team's reluctance to push further after achieving an FA Cup victory and Champions League football during his five years.

On the other hand, Skinner had never completely won over the United faithful and a refresh of ideas could be exactly what is needed with the impending appointment of Eva Olid (pictured).

The Spanish coach worked wonders during her time at Hearts, which culminated in a league title victory last season before she left the club.

Olid was said to be frustrated by Hearts' failure to push on from there, something she may well experience yet again in Manchester. However, according to reports United are set to focus on their youth system and she will have plenty to work with.

Proven academy

Before United reformed their first team for the 2018/19 season, they would often go on to produce talent at a young age then then had to forge their career away from the club – often at local rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, and Everton.

Indeed, this summer Gabby George left the club after having initially gone through the academy before making her name at Everton. Likewise Millie Turner moved to Everton and then Bristol City for a year before returning and now departing once again.

Ella Toone remains the only original with the current team and she had to leave United for Blackburn Rovers before moving to Manchester City. She's now one of United's senior players.

Last month, United announced that its U21 team would now start working at Carrington Training Complex, a move aimed at encouraging the promotion of youth.

And United's youth teams have been lifting trophies in recent seasons from U13 to U21 level. Indeed, the U14s won the SuperCupNI for a second time in a row this summer.

Existing talent

There is young talent already in the team which the club will be hoping Olid can develop. Midfielder Jessica Anderson, defender Scarlett Hill, and tall striker Layla Drury all signed their first professional contracts with the latter looking like one of the best prospects the club have produced in recent years.

There are also young players returning to the clubs from loans, including Emma Watson (Crystal Palace and Mexican side Tigres), Lucy Newell (Birmingham City and Palace), Mared Griffiths (Sunderland), and Jess Simpson (Southampton) who will now feel like this is their chance to make a push for first team in action.

Meanwhile, new signing Andrea Medina is only 22 while 21-year-old Ellen Wangerheim, who has had a difficult start to life in England, still has plenty of development time. Simi Awujo is still just 22 while Anna Sandberg, already one of the best left backs in the league, turned 23 back in May.

Teething Process

Of course, focusing on youth has its drawbacks when other teams are signing world class senior pros. United will no longer be expected to be challenging the top three clubs and instead be expected to battle it out with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion as the 'second tier' of teams in the WSL, assuming that London City Lionesses' spending spree sees them fighting for silverware.

The shift in direction may also not be what some of the current squad want to see. Will the likes of Ella Toone, Jess Park, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Jayde Riviere, and captain Maya Le Tissier be satisfied with a less ambitious approach?

All of those are top quality players who would have plenty of suitors should they become restless at United. 

Keeping those players happy while blooding in young talent and remaining competitive will require a lot of plate balancing from the club and the manager.

Can't win anything with kids

Thinking about Manchester United and youth football will bring back memories of Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the 1990s, who blooded the 'Class of 92' and found long-term success from it.

Success isn't expected yet but perhaps should young prospects produce at a high level the club could remain competitive among the top clubs.

Instead, INEOS may well be thinking of long-term financial gain. As women's transfer fees increase rapidly (all of the top 10 women's transfers have been in 2025 or 2026), producing talent and selling on could prove lucrative.

Just this summer, United sold Melvine Malard (pictured) to Chelsea for £850,000, which is in the top ten of women's transfers until day and the third highest fee an English team has received in a transfer behind only Olivia Smith from Liverpool to Arsenal and the recent sale of Kerolin from City to Barcelona.

But the most important thing is the fans who will be wondering where that fee is going with only two new arrivals so far this summer.

Then there is also the concern: what if this youth focus doesn't pay off? Could United then find themselves falling further behind the pack? 

If so, the only solution would require spending, something the club's higher ups seem entirely disinterested in. Only outside investment would help then but selling off a part of the women's team will only produce new challenges.