It's been another season of success for Manchester United at youth level and it could be about to get even better.
FA Youth Cup heroes Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are both shining stars at senior level, Willy Kambwala and Omari Forson have made their senior debuts and a host of academy hopefuls have featured in matchday squads across recent weeks.
The next academy graduate to represent the first-team will make history as the 250th to do so, while the U18s are on the brink of a momentous Premier League title and could even wrap that up today.
Erik ten Hag will already be well aware of which youngsters could bolster his squad in the years to come and the one silver lining of a lacklustre end to the season at senior level is that those academy hopefuls could be given a chance to shine.
Shea Lacey became the latest young hopeful to sign a professional contract earlier this week and here are a look at the seven academy hopefuls who have signed professional terms this season...
1. Gabriele Biancheri - ST
There was a lot of interest in Biancheri when he left boyhood club Cardiff to sign for United a year ago and it is easy to see why. The Welsh striker is the joint-leading goalscorer for the U18s this season and scored on his Wales U19 debut last month in a famous win away against Belgium. He is a versatile forward capable of playing across the front three as well as in an attacking midfield role if required. Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images
2. Jaydan Kamason - RB
Kamason made history by becoming the first player from the club's Emerging Talent Programme to sign a professional contract back in December. The teenage right-back joined the specialist programme six years ago while playing for local grassroots team Stockport Vikings and has gradually risen through the youth ranks since. Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images
3. Ethan Wheatley - ST
Wheatley has been one of the shining stars for United U18s this season and has played a key role in their surge towards the title. He has 18 goals and five assists across all competitions this campaign, including three goals at U21 level. Wheatley netted a hat-trick in United’s emphatic 9-1 victory over Liverpool recently. Wheatley has already trained with the first-team on a number of occasions and was included in the squad that faced Bournemouth last weekend. Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images
4. Harry Amass - LB
United fought off plenty of interest when they signed Amass from Watford last summer and he has been a huge part of their success at U18s level this season. Amass was considered one of the brightest talents from Watford’s academy system. He joined the club at the age of nine and was even included in a first-team squad at the age of just 15 in January 2023. He has been on the bench for the last two Premier League clashes against Liverpool and Bournemouth. Photo: Manchester United via Getty Images