Manchester United academy coach Tom Curtis is expected to leave the club and join Premier League rivals Everton. Curtis, who has been at Old Trafford since November 2024, is in talks to become part of Everton's Under-21 coaching setup, working alongside former United U21 assistant coach Dave Hughes.
Curtis's role at Manchester United
Curtis joined United as head of player development for the Under-13 and Under-16 age groups. He briefly served as caretaker for the Under-21s during a coaching reshuffle in January, taking charge of four matches when Darren Fletcher was overseeing the first team. Adam Lawrence later took over as interim U21 head coach for the remainder of the season.
Before joining United, Curtis spent a decade working in various youth development roles with the Football Association (FA). His experience in player development made him a key figure in United's academy structure.
Reunion with Nick Cox at Everton
Curtis is set to reunite with Nick Cox, the former head of Manchester United's academy, who joined Everton as technical director last year. Cox has been instrumental in reshaping Everton's academy, making several new appointments. Dave Hughes, previously United's U21 assistant coach, has already been appointed to manage Everton's U21 side.
According to sources, Curtis is expected to work alongside Hughes in Everton's U21 setup, further strengthening the club's youth development team.
Manchester United's U21 plans
Meanwhile, Manchester United are preparing to formally announce Adam Lawrence as the permanent U21 head coach. Lawrence returned to Carrington on Monday for the start of pre-season with the U21 squad. The vacancy arose when Travis Binnion moved up to assist the first-team coaching staff.
Curtis had briefly stepped in as caretaker before Lawrence returned to oversee the second half of last season. With Curtis's departure, United will need to fill another role in their academy coaching staff.
