Manchester United have completed the signing of Tyler Adjei from Reading, registering the England youth international in the same week the club appointed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach.
Adjei, 16, joins after United sacked Michael Carrick and agreed a deal for Pochettino, who officially takes charge on 18 November. The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager arrives days after the teenager's registration was completed.
Forward joins Under-18s setup
The youngster, signed as a centre-forward, is expected to link up with Darren Fletcher's Under-18s side. United saw off competition from a host of rival top clubs to secure his signature from the League One club.
One source told The Athletic: "He's got an athletic profile; he's got more to come physically. He moves well; he has a good temperament, mentality and demeanour. He has a good energy to train. He's got a way to go technically, as is the norm for a player of his age."
Adjei is not yet at full fitness and will need time to settle into life in Manchester following the completion of the registration process between the two clubs.
Fletcher's philosophy and squad depth
Fletcher's Under-18s have impressed this campaign. Speaking publicly last month after a 6-0 win over Burnley, the coach told MUTV: "We play attacking football; I know it is in the club's identity and the DNA. We want to play fast, direct, attacking football, but there is a lot more controlled possession element; that is just the way football is going these days.
"When you attack quickly, fluidly, get people into the box who make really good decisions. The key to football is decision making, so when we got into the final third, the decision making was brilliant today [against Burnley].
"Whether you pass, whether you cross, you shoot or use your team-mate, whether you are running to make space for your team-mate, all that decision-making has been fantastic, and I keep challenging them to do that."
Adjei will line up alongside notable names in the Under-18 setup, including Carrick's son, Jacey, and Kai Rooney, son of United legend Wayne Rooney. Pochettino built his reputation on nurturing young talent during his time at Spurs, with Dele Alli and, to a degree, Harry Kane among his most celebrated success stories.
