Shea Charles, the Southampton midfielder whose goal knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup, has attracted interest from Everton and Manchester United, sources confirm. The 21-year-old, who scored the winner in the quarter-final, is set to face his former club Manchester City in Saturday's semi-final at Wembley.
Charles, who joined Southampton from City for £15m three years ago, grew up in Flixton and idolised Vincent Kompany. He made his Premier League debut for City under Pep Guardiola in May 2023, coming on as a substitute against Brentford. 'I got told to warm up and I remember making sure it was me that they were talking to,' Charles recalled.
The Northern Ireland international has impressed this season, scoring a 96th-minute winner against Leicester in February and a goal-of-the-season contender against Oxford United. His composed finish against Arsenal, controlling the ball on his left foot and slotting home with his right, sparked a viral celebration that has been viewed millions of times.
Charles is expected to start against City, who he faced in a friendly while on international duty. 'I ended up playing against Rodri in a friendly … it's not fun to play against him, I'll be honest,' he said. The midfielder has been praised for his maturity and ability to perform in high-pressure moments.
