17-year-old Man United starlet signs first pro-contract with the club | OneFootball

Sam Mather signs first professional contract at Manchester United

According to Manchester Evening News, 17-year-old Sam Mather has officially signed his first Manchester United contract with the club.

The teenage left-winger was given his first run-out for the U23 side this season by Neil Wood against Arsenal in a 3-1 defeat, as he came on around the 68th minute for Zidane Iqbal.

The step up to the reserve team came after an impressive start to the season for the U18 side. He featured in the games they lost to Manchester City U18 and Liverpool U18, but scored and assisted in a 3-0 hammering of Leeds United U18.

Sam Mather of Manchester United (L) in action for the England U18 side against Wales U18. (imago Images)

And now, the Salford-born youngster has put pen to paper on a new deal at the club. The youngster has spent all his footballing time at Manchester United and can well be a regular for the U23 in the future.

Sam Mather signs pro deal

United’s academy isn’t alien to producing some of the best talents in world football. Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford are two of the top names that come to mind when one thinks about Man United academy graduates in recent years.

It’s all up to Mather to keep his performances up and target for a place in Wood’s U23 starting XI on a regular basis. That would undoubtedly be the first step towards making his debut for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s senior side.

Sam Mather has a long list of wingers to compete with if he wants to make it in the senior Man United side. (imago Images)

The Red Devils don’t have a shortage of young wingers as of now. Rashford and Greenwood are an established part of the first-team set up while Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri are also two young names to keep an eye out for.

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Moreover, the club just added Jadon Sancho to their ranks from Borussia Dortmund this summer. With none of these players anywhere near the twilight of their career, Mather may have to wait for his chance.