Manchester United confirm pre-contract signing of Aston Villa youngster

Manchester United have finally confirmed Aston Villa youngster Evie Rabjohn will join the club at the end of the season following weeks of speculation.

First linked to the club in April, the 18-year-old defender will link up with the club in the summer but will “train with the team immediately” the WSL club have confirmed before she is formally registrated with the FA for the 2023/24 season and is believed to have joined United on a free transfer.

“This is such a big club and to be able to sign here with my family around me, is what dreams are made of. I’ll do anything for this team, to get us to where we want to be” said Rabjohn on confirmation of her transfer.

Already an England under-19 international, it is believed the teenager was identified by the Manchester United recruitment team as a star of the future having already turned out in the Women’s Super League for the Villains three times this season, with the club also able to obtain the player without paying a fee due to her age which allows her to move without any compensation needing to be paid.

When asked about the links to Rabjohn by ManchesterWorld in April, Red Devils boss Marc Skinner told us: “There’s going to be rumours all over the place and I am sure the summer is going to be very interesting but until that player is a Manchester United player then I won’t be talking about anyone else’s players.”

However, with the players’ signature now official, Skinner said: “Evie is a fantastic young player that I have known since she was ten years old, and whose progress I have been monitoring ever since. We are delighted Evie has agreed to join us, and her signing again shows the long-term vision of this great football club.”

Head of women’s football Polly Bancroft echoed this, adding: “Evie is an exciting young player who we are delighted has agreed to join our Manchester United family. We look forward to integrating her into our match day squad in due course.”