We face Manchester United U21s this week, a list of players that we’re unlikely to know right now.
Against Brackley recently, a game the Under 21s lost, they fielded players such as William Murdock, Jaydan Kamason, Rhys Bennett, Sam Mather, Victor Musa, Jacob Devaney, Tyler Fletcher, Gabriele Biancheri, Jack Fletcher, James Scanlon and Ashton Missin. Not exactly household names, yet.
However, the same could have been said for the team they put out in 2019, Michael Appleton’s first game in charge at Sincil Bank. We lost 1-0 back then, James Garner scoring the only goal of the game. Very few of the players on show were players we knew, but you’d be surprised how many we know now.
Here is the Manchester United Under-21 squad from that 2019 fixture, and what they have done since.
Matej Kovar
Kovář developed at Manchester United after arriving from 1. FC Slovácko, gaining senior experience on loan at Swindon Town, Burton Albion and Sparta Prague, where he won the Czech First League and was named Goalkeeper of the Season.
He moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, and joined PSV on loan in 2025, lifting the Johan Cruyff Shield. Now a Czech Republic international, he has become established at the top level in Europe.
Di’Shon Bernard
Bernard came through Manchester United’s youth ranks after starting at Chelsea, making his senior debut in a Europa League tie against Astana in 2019. Loans with Salford City, Hull City and Portsmouth gave him first-team football across the EFL before his release from Old Trafford in 2023. He appeared at the Bank for eight minutes of our 2023 0-0 draw with Pompey,
He signed permanently with Sheffield Wednesday that summer and quickly became a regular at Hillsborough, earning a new contract and scoring his first Championship goals in 2024. Internationally, Bernard chose Jamaica, debuting in 2023 and featuring at the Gold Cup, cementing his place as a full international defender.
Teden Mengi
Mengi progressed through Manchester United’s academy from the age of seven, making a senior debut in the Europa League in 2020 before gaining Championship experience on loan with Derby County and Birmingham City. Injuries punctuated those spells, but he signed a new United deal in 2021 and remained on the fringes of the first team while continuing his development with England’s youth sides.
He left Old Trafford for Luton Town in August 2023, becoming a mainstay in defence and scoring his first senior goal against Crystal Palace that November. After a season in the Premier League he continued as a key figure in the Championship, and most recently appeared as we beat them 3-1 at the Bank.
Reece Devine
Devine came through the youth systems at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City and later Manchester United, where he featured in EFL Trophy games before stepping into senior football. He spent 2021–22 on loan with St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership and later with Walsall in League Two, gaining valuable experience but struggling for consistency.
Released by United in 2022, he joined Swindon Town but injuries, including a lengthy hamstring layoff, hampered his progress and he made only a single league appearance. After leaving Swindon in 2024 he trialled with Kidderminster Harriers, earning a deal in the National League North as he looks to rebuild his career.
James Garner
Garner progressed through Manchester United’s academy to make a senior debut in 2019, then accelerated his development with loans at Watford and Nottingham Forest. His second spell at Forest proved pivotal as he helped win the 2022 Championship play-offs, showcasing his control in midfield and set-piece delivery before a permanent move beckoned.
He signed for Everton in September 2022 and has since become a regular under successive managers, adding his first Toffees goals in 2023. Internationally, Garner moved through England’s youth pathway to under-21 level, winning the 2023 European Championship and earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Tahith Chong
Chong graduated from Manchester United’s academy after leaving Feyenoord and made a handful of senior appearances before building minutes on loan with Werder Bremen, Club Brugge and Birmingham City. He then joined Birmingham permanently in 2022, impressing across a full Championship season and earning a move to newly promoted Luton Town in 2023, where he scored his first Premier League goal against Liverpool.
Following Luton’s relegation he signed for Sheffield United in August 2025 on a four-year deal, adding direct running and versatility across midfield. Internationally, after extensive youth caps for the Netherlands he switched allegiance to Curaçao in 2025 and started fast, scoring twice in his opening two senior appearances.
Arnau Puigmal
Barcelona-born Puigmal joined Manchester United from Espanyol in 2017 and moved smoothly through the age groups, catching the eye for his versatility across midfield and at right-back. Those early senior auditions against EFL opposition helped sharpen him for men’s football before his release in 2021.
He signed a five-year deal with Almería, playing a major role in their 2021–22 Segunda División title and gaining La Liga experience thereafter. A 2024 loan to Elche added regular minutes, and he returned to Almería as a flexible option on the right or in midfield, established as a dependable performer in Spain’s top two tiers.
Ethan Galbraith
Galbraith left Linfield for Manchester United’s academy in 2017 and made a senior debut in the Europa League two years later. First-team minutes arrived on loan: a full season with Doncaster Rovers in League One, then a productive spell at Salford City, before a permanent move to Leyton Orient in 2023 where he became a reliable, goal-scoring midfielder across two campaigns. he ran the show for them in our 3-2 defeat earlier this year.
In July 2025 he stepped up to the Championship with Swansea City, opening his account in the EFL Cup soon after debuting. A senior Northern Ireland international since 18, he has progressed through every age group and is valued for his passing range and composure, bringing that blend of control and set-piece delivery to Swansea’s midfield.
Aliou Traore
Traoré joined Manchester United’s academy from PSG in 2017 and signed professional terms a year later, appearing in the EFL Trophy against senior opposition including Lincoln City. A loan to Caen in 2020 gave him regular minutes in Ligue 2 before he was released at the end of that season.
He moved on to Italy with Parma and later Frosinone, though game time was limited. His career reignited in Turkey, first with Göztepe and then Ankara Keçiörengücü, where he has become a consistent presence in midfield. Internationally, Traoré represented France at under-16 and under-19 level.
Dylan Levitt
Levitt rose through Manchester United’s academy and made his only senior appearance in a Europa League tie against Astana in 2019. Loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Istra 1961 and Dundee United followed, with his time in Scotland particularly fruitful as he became a fans’ favourite.
He joined Dundee United permanently in 2022 before moving to Hibernian a year later, where he has been a regular in the Scottish Premiership. On the international stage, Levitt has won more than a dozen caps for Wales and was part of squads at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Largie Ramazani
Ramazani left Charlton’s academy to join Manchester United in 2017, progressing through the youth ranks and making a senior debut in the Europa League against Astana in 2019. He turned down a new contract the following year and moved to Spain, where he signed for Almería. There he played a key role in promotion to La Liga and scored against Real Madrid after their top-flight return.
In 2024 he joined Leeds United, helping them win the Championship title with six goals in his first season. The Belgian winger, who has also represented his country at youth level, moved to Valencia on loan in August 2025 to gain further experience in La Liga.
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