Manchester United’s youth setup has taken another unexpected hit. Luke Fedorenko, the man credited with reviving the club’s academy and signing several of their brightest prospects, is set to leave Old Trafford — and his exit has caught many off guard.
The 35-year-old head of academy recruitment has reportedly accepted an offer from a major football agency, ending his nine-year stint at United, as per The Athletic.
The move comes despite the club’s attempts to convince him to stay, highlighting yet another behind-the-scenes shake-up at Carrington.
Fedorenko joined United in 2017 as part of Project Bethlehem, a plan to modernize the club’s youth structure after years of criticism that it had fallen behind rivals like Manchester City and Chelsea.
A former Barnsley youth player himself, Fedorenko climbed the scouting ladder at Sheffield United before being brought to Manchester by Nick Cox — who, interestingly, also recently left for Everton.
Under Fedorenko, United reshaped how they scouted young talent. His approach mixed traditional local scouting with modern data and video analysis.
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Post-Brexit, he pivoted the club’s focus toward homegrown prospects, building a more sustainable academy pipeline — one that fit within Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability rules.
A blow to United’s youth revolution
Fedorenko’s fingerprints are all over the next generation of United hopefuls. He helped bring in JJ Gabriel, Bendito Mantato, and Jayden Kamason — the latter becoming the first player from the club’s Emerging Talent Programme to sign a professional contract.
He also played a role in signing Chido Obi, the youngest academy starter in United history, and Ayden Heaven, both poached from Arsenal.
During his tenure, academy graduates have contributed to over £200 million in player sales, a figure that underlines his influence on both football and finance.
His departure now leaves new academy chief Steven Torpey, recruited from Brentford, with the daunting task of rebuilding that momentum.
United’s leadership reportedly made a “strong push” to retain Fedorenko, but the allure of a new challenge proved too tempting.
His exit, along with other recent staff changes, continues a season of transition at Carrington — one that may shape the future of the club’s famous academy for years to come.
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