Manchester United head of academy recruitment Luke Fedorenko has decided to leave the club

Manchester United’s head of academy recruitment Luke Fedorenko is set to leave the club, per The Athletic .

United wanted to keep him in the role but he has accepted an offer to work for a major football agency.

A former youth player at Barnsley, Federenko first joined the Red Devils as their academy lead scout for players aged 9-11. He was promoted as the head of local recruitment in 2021 before being named head of academy recruitment.

Fedorenko initially worked at Sheffield United with academy boss Nick Cox and later moved with him to Manchester. Cox has recently left to join Everton as technical director and has been replaced by Steven Torpey.

The 35-year-old played a pivotal role in signing top youth talents during his eight years at the club, including Chido Obi Martin and Ayden Heaven from Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Chido Obi is regarded as one of the best young strikers at the development level. He is only 17 but has already made eight senior appearances.

Heaven is also a top young talent who looks to have a very bright future ahead of him. At 19, he has already played eight times for United’s first-team.

Fedorenko was also instrumental in landing youth players JJ Gabriel, Bendito Mantato and Jayden Kamason, with United academy graduates contributing to over £200 million in player sales under his tenure.

The Red Devils’ academy is currently viewed as being in a stable and productive position, and Fedorenko deserves a lot of credit for that.

His departure is a blow for the club, but the decision is understood to have been made by Fedorenko himself.