Manchester United prepare a new Foden: who is Shea Lacey.

According to The Sun: SHEA LACEY, who is often compared to Phil Foden, aims to become the new star of Manchester United.

The 18-year-old Lacey got his first chance to play for the first team during United's pre-season tour of Asia in May.

His game understanding and dribbling skills have drawn attention, leading to frequent comparisons with Foden. Both players are quite slender and versatile, capable of playing both on the wing and in central attack.

Two goals scored against the Crystal Palace youth team were strong evidence of his talent.

Who is Shea Lacey?

Shea Lacey hails from Liverpool and has Irish roots, but represented England at the youth level.

He began playing football at the age of just three, although he also showed interest in boxing during his childhood.

Lacey's impressive performances in the Manchester United youth team led to a call-up to the U-18 national team, where he debuted at the age of 15.

The young man also participated in the REWE Junior Cup in Göttingen, Germany, and in other international tournaments.

He scored his first goal at U-18 level in a match against Wolverhampton, where the game ended in a 3-3 draw, and later debuted in the U-21 youth team in a friendly match against Feyenoord.

Shea Lacey's Career to Date

In light of recent events, Lacey has high hopes for his transition to the first team.

He previously played for the U-18 team that won the title in the 2023/24 season, but his contribution was limited by injuries.

In the 2024/25 season, the young man played only 13 matches in the academy, but has already played four games in the current season.

On September 30, he played for the U-21 team, which lost to Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy. Despite the 0-3 defeat, this match marked an important stage in Lacey's career, as he played 90 minutes on the field for the first time after a long recovery period.

The teenager wrote on Instagram:

“This is not the result we wanted yesterday. Nice to be on the field for 90 minutes again after a tiring two years.”

On September 6, 2023, Lacey made his debut for the England U-17 national team, providing two assists during a 2-3 loss to Portugal at the Pinatar Stadium.

Together with Aidon Heaven, Eli Harris, and Ethan Whitley, Lacey received a call-up to the U-20 national team squad.

Other Young Stars of United

First team stars of United are impressed by Lacey's performances during his recent training. Harry Maguire has taken him under his wing.

The young talent comes from a football family, where Liverpool football was the focus, as his relatives played in the youth teams of the club.

However, he has now sided with United and is preparing to make his own history at Old Trafford.

The son of U-18 coach Darren Fletcher, Jack, is also close to moving to the first team. This midfielder, whose twin brother Tyler also plays for U-21, scored his first goal from outside the penalty area in a match against Everton.

Former Arsenal youth team star Chido Obie is part of this season’s U-21 squad after previously playing under Amorim last season.

Shea Lacey is becoming an increasingly prominent talent at Manchester United, and his career continues to develop. Given his impressive performances, there is hope that he will become an important part of the team in the near future. A talent that combines technique and intuition could be the key to the club's success.