Tyler Adjei: Man Utd agree deal for Reading teenager, says Romano

Tyler Adjei has agreed terms to join Manchester United from Reading, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 16-year-old England youth international is an academy addition, with Andy Mitten reporting that he registered with United this week.

Romano said documents were due to be approved next week. Adjei can play across the front three but has been recruited as a centre-forward, and he will start in Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s at Carrington.

It is a small deal by Old Trafford standards, but it comes in the same week United confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. It also fits a youth recruitment drive that the club have pushed hard all season.

Tyler Adjei to Man Utd: what we know

Mitten broke the story for The Athletic, and Romano then backed it on X.

“Manchester United complete deal to sign Tyler Adjei from Reading. All done for 16 year old to join #mufc project,” he wrote, adding that the forward had accepted all terms.

The Manchester Evening News, The Standard and the Mirror have also carried the story, with several other clubs reportedly interested in the teenager. United have not announced the deal themselves yet.

Who is Tyler Adjei?

Adjei is an England youth international who has come through Reading’s academy. United see his future as a No 9.

A source told The Athletic, as quoted by Football365, that he is a work in progress. “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.”

That is a fair assessment for any 16-year-old. United are not buying a finished player. They are buying potential, and a teenager they think can grow with the club.

Part of United’s youth push

This is not a one-off. In September, United completed deals for teenage midfielders Karim Cassim and David Eze from Manchester City, and winger Isaac Konde from Liverpool. Adjei is the latest piece of that plan.

He will join a busy Under-18s group that also includes Jacey Carrick, son of former head coach Michael Carrick, and Kai Rooney, son of United legend Wayne Rooney.

Why the Pochettino link matters

This is an academy signing, not a first-team one. But it lands at an interesting moment. Pochettino starts work on 18 November, and his record with young players is a big part of his appeal. At Tottenham, he gave chances to the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane.

For Adjei, the immediate focus is the Under-18s and his own development. Any first-team conversation is a long way off, but he arrives at a club that is investing heavily in young talent.

Pochettino’s first game is a big one, at Anfield against Liverpool on Sunday 22 November at 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports. Read our Pochettino Man Utd appointment story for the full background, and keep up with every move on our Premier League hub.