Kai Rooney, the 16-year-old son of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, has signed a scholarship deal at Old Trafford, marking a significant step in his budding career. The young forward took to Instagram to share the news with the three-word caption: "Work starts now," alongside four photos of his signing day.
Scholarship Deal and Boot Ban Lifted
The scholarship allows Kai to continue his studies while pursuing football, and he will be eligible to sign a professional contract when he turns 17. With the deal, the ban on his sponsored Puma boots has also been lifted. United's club policy prohibits players in the Under-16s or younger from wearing sponsored boots, requiring all to wear the same footwear. However, since Kai has turned 16 before the August 31 cut-off, he will now permanently step up to the next age group and can wear his Puma boots.
Kai inked the sponsorship deal with Puma in 2022 when he was just 12. Speaking last year on The Smith Brothers: Not A Podcast, Wayne Rooney said: "He’s obviously with Puma but when he plays for the Manchester United U16s, something which I really like is he can’t wear his Puma boots. All the academy have to wear the same boots. They do it because there’s people from areas where they can’t afford certain boots so I think it’s really good. But he’s played for the U18s a few times and he can then wear his Puma boots. He’s doing well to be fair to him."
Family Support
Kai's scholarship deal has been well-received in the Rooney household. His mother, Coleen, commented on a picture posted by United's official Instagram account showing the first-year scholars signing their deals, writing: "Brilliant boys," along with a fire emoji, a love heart, and clapping hands. Wayne shared a story of his son with the caption: "Proud of you," along with a love heart and a pen-signing emoji.
On-Field Progress and Injury Setback
Kai featured six times for the U18s last season, making his debut at that age group when he was 15 in a 1-0 win against Everton last August. However, he suffered a season-ending injury in March, which sidelined him for United's FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City, a match United lost 2-1.
With the scholarship now signed and the boot ban lifted, Kai is ready to focus on his development and make his mark at the club where his father became a legend.
