Manchester United's Layla Drury is set to sign a historic contract, becoming the youngest player to sign a professional deal with the club.

What's the deal?

Drury made her senior debut for Manchester United at 16 years and 220 days, breaking a record that was previously held by Lauren James, which had been standing since United's first match after reformation in 2018. She finished the 2025/26 season with seven appearances to her name across all competitions, scoring against Burnley and becoming United's youngest-ever goalscorer.

Why it matters for Manchester United

The progress Drury has demonstrated is viewed as a success story for United's academy, with Marc Skinner's side committed to promoting homegrown talent and building a self-sustainable women's team as the sport continues to grow. Manchester United are currently standing 3rd in Premier League, 71 pts, 20W-11D-7L from 38 games, with a recent form of WWDWW, and are looking to build on their recent success, having won their last 4 games, including a 3-0 win over Brighton on May 24, 2026.

What comes next?

Drury will be the first player to put pen to paper on a professional United contract before her 18th birthday, and is set to spend next season with United's first team on a full-time basis, as the team prepares for their next fixture against AC Milan on August 15, 2026.