Manchester United agree pre-contract for 17-year-old midfielder Orozco

Manchester United have reached a preliminary agreement to sign 17-year-old Colombian defensive midfielder Cristian Orozco from Fortaleza CEIF, with the transfer set to be completed once he turns 18 in July, reports say. The move would see Orozco relocate to Old Trafford next year and initially join United's youth ranks before being assessed for progression into older age groups or the first team.

Orozco, who joined Fortaleza earlier this year, has captained Colombia's under-17 side and helped them reach the final of the South American Under-17 Championship. He has yet to make his professional debut for Fortaleza but is widely regarded for his leadership and positional sense in midfield at youth international level. Local coaches who worked with him described his leadership and temperament as important traits in his development.

United's recruitment team is understood to have negotiated a precontract arrangement with Fortaleza that delays the formal transfer until the player is eligible to move abroad. Once at Manchester, Orozco is expected to slot into the club's under-18 or under-21 setup while the coaching staff monitor his readiness for senior football.