Manchester United have agreed a scholarship deal to sign Vincent Joseph (16) from Liverpool, with journalist Pete O’Rourke confirming the England U16 striker will leave Anfield for Old Trafford despite serious interest from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, both of whom sent scouts to watch him on multiple occasions.
Joseph’s dual nationality – born in Germany, eligible for both England and Germany at youth level – made a move to the Bundesliga straightforward on paper, and gave the European interest genuine credibility. United’s recruitment team identified him early regardless, inviting Joseph to Carrington and Old Trafford as part of a sustained charm offensive that has ultimately proved decisive.
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United’s position in the Joseph pursuit
United’s interest in Joseph had been building for months, with earlier reports describing the pursuit as one to watch and the club quietly confident of prising him away from Liverpool’s academy. The primary draw was straightforward: Joseph is among the most productive young strikers in English academy football at his age group.
His record backs that up. Nineteen goals at U16 level for Liverpool included back-to-back hat-tricks against Everton and Stockport County in 2024-25. For England U16s, he contributed six goals in four appearances – among them a hat-trick against the Netherlands in December 2025 that accelerated interest from overseas scouts considerably.
At club level, Joseph made two appearances in the U18 Premier League last season, scoring three times – an impressive return for a player stepping up an age group. Primarily a centre-forward, he has also been deployed in attacking midfield, which broadens his utility within an academy setup.
Bayern and Dortmund were genuine options. Joseph’s German passport removed the usual administrative friction that complicates cross-border youth moves, and both clubs had done their homework. That United have seen them off reflects both the appeal of the scholarship terms on offer and the sustained personal attention from the club’s recruitment operation.
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The deal structure
The agreement is a scholarship deal, the standard structure for a 16-year-old making the move between academy setups. No transfer fee is involved – compensation at this level is governed by development rules rather than negotiated market rates, meaning Liverpool’s financial return will be limited regardless of Joseph’s trajectory.
Alas, that is the nature of losing a scholarship-age player: the selling club has little leverage once the player and his representatives have decided on a destination. Liverpool will receive the applicable training compensation under the relevant regulations, but it is a fraction of what Joseph’s talent might eventually command on the open market.
The move is also part of a wider pattern this summer. United are in contact with the representatives of Liverpool academy winger Isaac Konde, and have overtaken Liverpool in the race for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who prefers Old Trafford and for whom United are prepared to spend more than their rivals.
What happens next
The formal next step is Joseph signing and registering his scholarship terms with United ahead of the 2026-27 season. Once that paperwork is processed, he would be expected to integrate into the U18 squad, with UEFA Youth League involvement a realistic possibility depending on how pre-season goes.
Liverpool, meanwhile, face a broader concern. Joseph’s departure draws attention to the futures of other academy scholarship hold-outs, with Joshua Abe and Erik Farkas the names to watch as the summer progresses. It remains to be seen whether the Merseyside club move aggressively to secure the pair before further approaches arrive from outside.