With United always keen to improve their academy setup, they've now appointed a new Head of Academy Football Development and Methodology. Like Torpey, who arrived in 2025, Hughes joins United after working previously at City, where he held multiple roles. Hughes' most recent role at City was Head of Coaching, but he now crosses the city to take up a different role at Carrington.
The 16-year-old son of United and England icon Wayne Rooney has been in United's academy since the age of 11 and impressed while rising through the youth ranks, making his Old Trafford debut for the Under-18s in their FA Youth Cup tie against Derby last month. According to The Sun, forward Kai - who turns 17 in November - has been offered initial one-year scholarship terms that would then become a three-year professional deal worth approximately 50,000 a week and an annual signing-on fee.
Everyone would talk about what they'd do with this player or that, none of them had kicked a football in their life or got any experience in football. You allow it as footballers, because everyone has got an opinion. But then when the finances come out and I try to say something, they go, 'What are you f**king talking about? You haven't got a clue, mate.'