Man United Academy's Shift: Big Sell-On Clauses and Arsenal's Double Swoop
Manchester United are reshaping their academy business model – and Arsenal are the latest club to feel the effects.
The Old Trafford hierarchy are set to bank significant future income from the departures of youngsters Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon, with both players heading to Arsenal on free transfers that come loaded with sizeable sell‑on clauses, according to The Athletic.
Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has already undergone a medical with the Gunners ahead of the move. Scanlon, a 19-year-old winger, is also understood to be close to finalising his switch to north London.
The deals underline a shift in how United treat their academy. It is no longer just about producing the next first‑team star. Under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, clubs have increasingly turned youth systems into profit engines – developing players who either break through or are sold on for pure profit, a crucial factor under the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules.
Chelsea have set the benchmark. Their academy has generated over £400million in transfer fees in recent years, a model United are now clearly trying to mirror.
Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach, David Horseman, knows exactly what he is getting. He spent four months working inside United’s academy setup and is already familiar with both Ogunneye and Scanlon, which has smoothed the path for the Gunners’ move.
The double deal follows a clear pattern emerging from Old Trafford this summer. United are not simply letting young players drift away; they are wiring in future value at every turn.
Last week, winger Ethan Ennis left for League One side Stockport County. Before him, Ethan Williams joined Peterborough United, goalkeeper Radek Vitek moved to Middlesbrough, and defender Tyler Fredricson signed for Ineos-owned Lausanne Sport.
Recent Transfers
- Ethan Ennis - League One side Stockport County
- Ethan Williams - Peterborough United (50% sell‑on clause, buyback option, matching rights)
- Radek Vitek - Middlesbrough (initial fee could climb to £14m, 35% sell‑on, buyback and matching rights)
- Tyler Fredricson - Lausanne Sport (high percentage sell‑on clause, buyback option)
The structure of those exits tells the story.
United are effectively placing a long-term bet on their own talent identification. If these players explode elsewhere, Old Trafford still gets paid – and, in some cases, retains the right to bring them back.
It all feeds into Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wider vision for the club. Speaking on The Business Podcast last October, he set out the financial logic in blunt terms: “You need the academy to be producing talent all the time. It helps you financially.”
United’s academy has long carried the weight of history, from the Busby Babes to the Class of ’92. The new regime wants it to carry the balance sheet as well.
With Arsenal poised to pick up two more of United’s prospects, the question now is simple: who will be the first to make them regret – or celebrate – these heavily engineered exits?
