Manchester United confirms Orozco’s arrival
Manchester United has announced the signing of midfielder Cristian Orozco from Colombian club Fortaleza CEIF. The 18-year-old midfielder will initially join the academy, with plans for him to feature regularly for the Under-21s during the upcoming season. The club aims for him to eventually progress to the senior side.
Orozco made his public debut for Manchester United Under-21s last week against Altrincham, coming on as a substitute during the match. Reports indicate that the transfer fee for Orozco is approximately £750,000. The agreement for his move was reportedly made last year, but Orozco had to wait until his 18th birthday to finalize the transfer to England.
The midfielder previously visited Manchester United’s Carrington training ground. He expressed his excitement to ESPN Colombia, stating that visiting the city and the club’s facilities was a dream come true. Orozco noted his intention to learn English and adapt quickly to his new environment, highlighting his physicality and technique as key strengths.
Academy developments and player progress
Michael Carrick, who has been a strong supporter of the academy since his interim appointment in January, continues to provide opportunities for young players in pre-season. He has regularly attended youth games and shown faith in academy prospects throughout the summer pre-season fixtures.
Among the emerging talents, Jim Thwaites, a midfielder admired by Carrick, is set to remain with the club. There are no current plans for Thwaites to go out on loan; instead, he will play for the Under-21s and gain exposure to the first-team by training with senior players when selected. Thwaites made his ‘senior debut’ from the bench against Atletico Madrid and was part of a smaller squad for a trip to Stockholm.
Another player, Jacob Devaney, has drawn praise from Carrick for his performances. Devaney, a defensive midfielder, played out of position as a centre-half against Wrexham and Rosenborg, demonstrating his versatility. His reputation grew significantly during a loan spell with St Mirren in the Scottish top-flight, where he started nearly every game. Devaney is expected to go on loan again in the new campaign and is attracting interest from Championship clubs and teams in Europe.
The Under-21s have also been active in pre-season, playing Altrincham at Moss Lane. They secured a 4-0 victory against Burnley in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington. Further behind-closed-doors friendlies against Aston Villa and Ipswich are scheduled to help build fitness before the competitive season begins, with the match against Ipswich being particularly useful ahead of their league opener against the same opponent.
Orozco’s integration and future outlook
Orozco’s transfer was officially completed last month when he turned 18. Coaches at Manchester United have been communicating with him through Spanish-speaking players, such as Diego Leon, as Orozco is not yet fluent in English. Club sources have indicated a cautious approach, stating they will “take it slowly” with the young midfielder.
While Orozco is considered more physically developed than some previous academy signings from outside Europe, the club recognizes he still requires time to adapt to English football. He made five senior appearances for Fortaleza last season and has also represented Colombia at Under-17 level.
In other academy news, Everton has shown interest in signing United academy striker Ethan Wheatley. This interest is partly due to former United academy chief Nick Cox, now Everton’s technical director, who is a strong admirer of Wheatley. Cox has observed Wheatley’s development and believes he has the potential to become a notable striker.
Manchester United has also brought in two first-team midfielders this summer: Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Santos has performed well in pre-season matches against Wrexham, Rosenborg, and Atletico Madrid. Tielemans, who recently joined his new teammates after representing Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, could make his debut in Saturday’s friendly against Paris Saint-Germain.
The club is reportedly still looking to sign another midfielder, with Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni identified as a primary target. However, a potential move involving Rodri from Manchester City to Barcelona, rather than Real Madrid, could impact United’s pursuit of the France international this summer.
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Source: standard.co.uk
