Manchester United youngster Ethan Laird has signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2023.
The 18-year-old made his first-team debut in United’s 2-1 away defeat to Astana in the Europa League and also featured against AZ Alkmaar at Old Trafford in December.
Laird is a hugely promising fullback and has shone for Neil Wood’s u23 side this season. The u23’s have won 13 out of 16 games this term and currently sit in second place in Premier League 2 Division 2.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be well aware of Laird’s talents with the youngster making two senior appearances already.
And there is clearly an opportunity of a path into the first team for the teenager. Laird should be encouraged by the fantastic rise to first-team prominence of academy teammate Brandon Williams.
Williams has played an important role for the Reds this season, despite not even travelling with the first-team squad on the summer pre-season tour of Asia and Australia.
Laird will be looking to provide competition to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot at right-back in the next campaign , or may benefit for a season out playing regular first-team football as he continues his development.
U23’s goalkeeper Paul Wollston also penned a new contract on Tuesday, keeping him at Old Trafford for a further season.