Lincoln City have reportedly won the race to sign Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke, or ‘Done Deal Pete’ as we know him, who gets his information from agents when a deal is signed, has revealed that the 20-year-old has agreed to a move to Sincil Bank, having attracted interest from several other clubs.
“Understand Manchester United forward Ethan Wheatley has agreed a move to Lincoln City. A number of clubs were chasing Wheatley, but Lincoln have won race for striker’s signature.”
O’Rourke’s report does not specify whether Wheatley will join permanently or on loan, but it’s almost certain to be a loan. Previous reports surrounding City’s interest have suggested that the Imps were looking at a temporary move for the Manchester United youngster.
City were first linked with the forward last week after Everton reportedly withdrew from the race for his signature. The Premier League club had explored a permanent deal, with an initial fee, add-ons and a sell-on clause all said to have formed part of the discussions. However, they subsequently decided to direct their available funds elsewhere.
That appears to have opened the door for the Imps, who have moved quickly to secure another attacking option for Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.
Wheatley came through Manchester United’s academy after joining the club at the age of nine. He became their 250th academy graduate when he made his senior debut against Sheffield United in April 2024, appearing three times in the Premier League during the closing weeks of that season.
The Stockport-born forward has since gained senior experience during loan spells with Walsall, Northampton Town and Bradford City. His most productive period came with Northampton during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign, scoring three times in 22 League One appearances before being recalled by his parent club in January.
He subsequently joined Bradford for the remainder of the season, adding further experience at that level. Across his two League One loans, Wheatley made more than 30 appearances during 2025/26.
Standing at around 6ft 2in, he would offer City another physical option through the middle. He has also represented England at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, scoring three times in ten appearances for the under-19s.
Wheatley was named Manchester United’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year in 2024 after an impressive academy campaign. His arrival would add another young attacker to the squad, alongside Tottenham Hotspur loanee Mason Melia.
Our Thoughts
We don’t condemn a player before he arrives, and we try not to go overboard on their talent as well, but some of the initial responses to this are amusing. Some people are saying we need a winger, when we don’t really play with traditional wide players. We need hard-working players, willing to chase back and to break at pace.
We do need some quality in front of goal, and Wheatley’s previous senior record doesn’t have that, but his youth record does. It’s dangerous to judge either way – the Championship might suit him better; he could improve after a season of senior football, and we might deploy him differently to Bradford and Northampton.
Either way, a player doesn’t come through the Manchester United academy and attract the attention of Everton without having something about him. Other reports have linked Cardiff City, Aberdeen and SC Cambuur, so again, he’s obviously seen at a certain level by those who know football.
Comments Welcome!