Man Utd confirm departure of Stockport-born, he played under Van Nistelrooy | OneFootball

Manchester United have stayed true to their tradition of sending promising academy talents on loan this January.

Man United have confirmed that Ethan Wheatley has joined Walsall on loan for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

The highly-rated striker will gain valuable first-team experience with the League Two leaders.

He has bagged six goals in nine Premier League 2 games this season.

After making a strong impression in United’s youth setup, Wheatley earned the opportunity to feature in the senior team under former manager Erik ten Hag.

He became the 250th academy graduate to debut for United’s first-team last campaign.

He has made four appearances for United.

His latest appearance came as a substitute in United’s 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup under former caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The 19-year-old has quickly gained recognition for his clinical finishing and smart movement, making him a promising prospect for the future.

This will be Wheatley’s first loan move of his career.

The brief spell will offer the striker a platform to adapt to the physical demands of senior football.

Walsall suffered a setback earlier this month after their leading goalscorer Nathan Lowe was recalled by Stoke City.

Walsall’s solid position means they will be aiming for promotion and Wheatley could play a pivotal role in helping them achieve that goal.

He could make his debut against Bradford City at Valley Parade today.

The young striker will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Amad Diallo, aiming to establish himself as a regular first-team player for the Red Devils.

The Stockport-born forward is well aware that the journey to securing a consistent spot in the senior squad will come with its challenges.

A highly successful loan spell at Walsall could certainly turn heads, including that of manager Ruben Amorim.

It could open the door for Wheatley to earn a spot in the next pre-season tour with United.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .