Wayne and Coleen Rooney have expressed their pride after their son Kai signed a scholarship agreement with Manchester United, bringing an end to the club's ban on his sponsored Puma football boots. The 16-year-old, who has been part of United's youth system since age 11, will now move up to the Under-18s squad, where he is permitted to wear his branded footwear.
The scholarship deal allows Kai to continue his education while pursuing a football career, with a professional contract possible when he turns 17. Coleen commented on United's Instagram post of the new scholars: 'Brilliant boys,' accompanied by a fire emoji, love heart and clapping hands. Wayne posted a story with the message 'Proud of you' and a love heart.
Manchester United enforces a rule that players in the Under-16s or below must wear identical boots, banning sponsored footwear to ensure equality among academy players from different financial backgrounds. Speaking earlier this year, Wayne praised the policy, saying: 'All the academy have to wear the same boots… it's really good.' Kai, who signed his Puma sponsorship at age 12 in 2022, can now wear them with the U18s.
Kai made his U18s debut last August at age 15 in a 1-0 win over Everton, featuring six times before a season-ending injury in March sidelined him for the FA Youth Cup final loss to Manchester City. With his 16th birthday past the August 31 deadline, he permanently joins the older age group, free to wear his own boots.
