Manchester United academy recruitment head to join major agency

Manchester United's head of academy recruitment, Luke Fedorenko, has accepted an offer to join a major football agency and will leave the club after eight years, the club confirmed. The 35-year-old, who joined United in 2017 as part of Project Bethlehem to expand and modernise the club's recruitment operations, is stepping down amid wider changes in the club's youth and technical structure.

Fedorenko rose through the scouting ranks after arriving from Sheffield United, initially working as lead scout for players aged nine to 11. He was promoted to head of local recruitment in 2021 and later became head of academy recruitment. Club officials sought to retain him, but he has chosen to move to the agency sector; the exact timing of his exit is still being finalised. The departure has been described by those close to the club as amicable, with Fedorenko focused on ensuring a smooth handover to protect the interests of young players and their families.

During his tenure, Fedorenko helped reshape United's youth recruitment, particularly after Brexit when the club refocused more heavily on domestic talent. He worked closely with academy staff to recruit and develop several promising...