Manchester United have wasted no time under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, completing the signing of Reading forward Tyler Adjei on the same day the Argentine's appointment was formally announced.
Adjei, 16, is an England youth international who has joined from League One side Reading and been registered with United this week. Though he is capable of operating across the front line, United have brought him in specifically as a centre-forward. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal had been completed.
The teenager will initially work under Darren Fletcher in United's Under-18 setup rather than stepping straight into Pochettino's senior squad. Adjei is not yet at full fitness and will be given time to settle into life in Manchester before taking on a more prominent role.
A source told the Daily Star: "He's got an athletic profile; he's got more to come physically. He moves well; he has a good temperament, mentality and demeanour. He has a good energy to train. He's got a way to go technically, as is the norm for a player of his age."
United had to fend off interest from a number of rival clubs to secure the youngster's signature. He joins a youthful group at Carrington that already includes Jacey Carrick and Kai Rooney. United also raided Manchester City in the summer for Karim Cassim and David Eze, and signed winger Isack Konde from Liverpool as part of the same drive to build the next generation of first-team talent.
Fletcher's Under-18 side have been in strong form this term, and the manager spoke to MUTV last month following a 6-0 victory over Burnley. "We play attacking football, I know it is in the club's identity and the DNA," Fletcher said, according to the Mirror. "Whether you pass, whether you cross, you shoot or use your team-mate, whether you are running to make space for your team-mate, all that decision-making has been fantastic and I keep challenging them to do that."
Pochettino, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract running until June 2029, was confirmed as Michael Carrick's successor on Friday and takes over officially on November 18. Carrick was dismissed on Thursday with United sitting in the Premier League relegation zone, having won just one of their opening 10 matches. Pochettino will honour his remaining commitments with the United States men's national team during the current international window before being unveiled at Old Trafford.
He will bring a familiar backroom team with him, including long-time assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D'Agostino, goalkeeping coach Antonio Jimenez, and his son Sebastiano Pochettino, who works as a sports scientist. The club is also prioritising a centre-back and a senior striker in the January window, with Benjamin Sesko ruled out until the new year due to a shin problem. Adjei's arrival signals that recruitment work is already under way on Pochettino's watch.
Reporting: TeamTalk, The Sun, Daily Star, Evening Standard, Mirror.