Noah Ajayi is the 6ft 2in Manchester United winger who has grown into a fine prospect

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsAnalysisNoah Ajayi is the 6ft 2in Manchester United winger who has grown into a fine prospectAjayi has been in fine form this year Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images Share articleThe game was in stoppage time and Manchester United’s progress was already secured, but Noah Ajayi appeared determined to make an impact. The teenager had emerged as a substitute in the FA Youth Cup fifth-round tie against Oxford United with his side winning 3-1, but he was desperate to get on the scoresheet. A couple of possessions were squandered as he tried to push his way through the Oxford defence until the 93rd minute, when he finally succeeded. Then came the goal which displayed three of Ajayi’s qualities. There was the strength from the 6ft 2in winger to brush off the full-back after heading the ball down, then came the pace and trickery to beat the centre-back, followed by the finish to get the goal he had desperately craved. It is something he will hope to repeat on Thursday night, when Darren Fletcher’s side take on neighbours Manchester City in the final of the coveted under-18s competition at Joie Stadium. All eyes will be on 15-year-old sensation JJ Gabriel when it comes to United, of course. Like they have been all season. But the player to his left will be hoping to have a big say in United’s hopes of winning the competition for a 12th time. Ajayi, 17, was born in Hamburg, Germany. His mother is German and his father is Nigerian, which means he qualifies for both nations, as well as England. At the moment, however, he is part of Germany’s youth setup, having represented his country of birth at under-19 level. The family moved to England when Ajayi was 10 and he was soon signed by United’s academy. It is there that he has emerged as a big prospect that people inside the club, speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not cleared to speak publicly, are extremely excited about. They believe in him and are setting out a pathway to first-team football. Those with a keener eye on United’s academy will have been aware of Ajayi for a while, given he was highly regarded from his early days at the club. For those not so in tune with the underage stars, his emergence appears to have come in recent months. There’s a reason for that. Around the age of 15, Ajayi went through a major growth spurt which continued as he turned 16. That has given him the height he possesses now, which is helping him physically on the pitch, but for a sustained period it also brought niggling injuries which, while not stunting his progress, limited his playing time. It stopped him from gaining momentum after making his under-21s and under-18s debuts last season. Those around him knew how much it frustrated the teenager. He wasn’t downbeat about it, but he was disappointed as the niggles kept coming and others got their chances. Club staff, however, knew it was down to the sudden growth and part of the rest of his body catching up. The issues continued into this season, but the hope now is that he can kick on after a fine run of form from the turn of the year. More eyes are beginning to see regularly what he can do. That goal against Oxford back in February was the first in a run of six goals in six games, including a fine finish to open the scoring in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final win over Sunderland in March. The impressive return helped get more time in Fletcher’s side. The former United midfielder opts to play Ajayi on the left, where he has certainly excelled, but he can play across the front three and even as a makeshift striker if needed. The coaching staff at the club are highly impressed with him and with how easy he is to work with. They note his work ethic both on and off the pitch. He is always eager to study videos provided by coaches in order to improve not only his work on the ball, but also out of possession. It may stem from his nature, as he is understood to be an impressive student academically, too. His father is someone who ensures education is not forgotten despite his determination to make it as a professional footballer. The players he admires are Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, United legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, and watching them is part of his football education. Around the club, he is quiet but some describe him as “quietly confident” — someone who has full belief in his abilities without being loud about it, while remaining willing to work hard and get on with his team-mates. Those around him, and the player himself, are aware he is far from the finished article. There is plenty of work to be done if he is to take the next step, both in his play and physically. He has been described as a “perfectionist” when critiquing his own game. A fine performance for the under-18s against Stoke City at the weekend only added to the excitement surrounding the player. He scored twice — to make it 10 for the season — and assisted Gabriel, a player he is building an excellent rapport with on the pitch, after a brilliant piece of skill. It was a display which certainly showed off his ability on the ball, with some impressive runs that make him difficult to defend against given his size. There is belief he can take that ball-carrying ability to senior level against defenders more physical than those at under-18 level when the time is right. Obviously, time will tell on that. Ajayi has trained on a couple of occasions with the club’s first team this season, although not as much as some others in his age group. That is not down to his ability, but more due to the coaching staff being wary of his workload given his previous injuries. The club are plotting a pathway to the first team for Ajayi, like they are for many of their young players, to ensure he is ready for the step up. There has been no decision yet on which youngsters will work with the first team during pre-season. Given that most of his football this season has been at under-18 level, the logical next step for Ajayi may be to become a more regular figure with the under-21s next term, while training with the first team more often to show what he can do at that level. He has taken big steps forward this season and will be eager to take more next term. First up, he is trying to join some of United’s great youngsters by winning the FA Youth Cup. As that goal against Oxford showed, Ajayi has ability and determination — two qualities he will need if he is to become a first-team player. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms