Manchester United Extends Contract Offer to Wayne Rooney's Son Kai
The son of Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, is poised to potentially follow in his father's legendary footsteps. Kai Rooney, aged 16, has been formally offered a new contract by the Red Devils as he continues his development within the club's prestigious youth academy.
Academy Progression and Contract Details
Kai Rooney, an attacker like his famous father, has been part of the Manchester United academy system for several years. His impressive performances in the youth ranks have now earned him a place among a select group of fourteen highly-rated youngsters who have received new contract offers from the club.
According to reports from The Sun, Kai Rooney and Jacey Carrick - the son of current Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick - are among those who have been offered new deals. If accepted, Kai would initially sign a one-year scholarship agreement that would automatically convert into a three-year professional contract upon his seventeenth birthday.
The proposed contract would reportedly see the young forward earn approximately £50,000 per year plus an annual signing-on fee. However, the Rooney family has not yet given final approval to the arrangement, with discussions ongoing about the terms and Kai's future development pathway.
Family Pride and Parental Support
Wayne Rooney expressed his pride last month after watching his eldest son represent Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup against Derby County. "Kai got moved up to the under-18s squad for the Youth Cup and it was great to see him come on," the United legend said. "It brought back memories of when I played in the Youth Cup for Everton. It was a proud moment and I'm delighted for him."
Coleen Rooney, Kai's mother, has emphasized that the family has never pressured their children to pursue football careers. Speaking to The Mirror in September 2024, she explained: "We've never pressured them into even playing football. We've always just let them decide what they want to do. I think they sometimes get pressure off other people."
She added that Kai has developed his own approach to handling comparisons: "Kai says 'I'm a different type of player.' You've got to let them know that you don't have to follow and to be your own person."
Club Culture and Academy Focus
Wayne Rooney has praised the renewed focus on youth development at Manchester United under Michael Carrick's leadership. Speaking on his BBC podcast last month, he noted: "It is great to see all the coaches taking a big interest in the academy. In the next few years, some of those players might get an opportunity for the first team, so it is important they have that interest."
The former England captain highlighted the positive impact of first-team staff attending academy matches: "The lift it gives to the players and the players' parents, seeing the first team manager there. That is how the club should be run."
An insider familiar with the academy situation told The Sun: "The group is very strong and the majority of the boys including Kai and Jacey have been offered deals. It means when they finish school they can go into full-time 'football employment' and then when they turn 17 are guaranteed a pro status. They still have a long way to go to make the grade, but they can be very proud that the club thinks they have a chance of making it."
The contract offer represents a significant milestone in Kai Rooney's young career as he continues to develop within the Manchester United system while carrying the legacy of one of the club's greatest ever players.
