Manchester United transfer news: Ethan Laird joins Bournemouth on loan for remainder of the season

Manchester United have announced Ethan Laird has joined Bournemouth on loan for the reminder of the season.

The right-back spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Swansea City, before being recalled by United and now joins the Championship-leaders.

During his time in Wales, Laird made 21 appearances in all competitions for the club, assisting his team-mates on four occasions.

He now moves to the south coast in the hope he can help Bournemouth gain promotion back to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old, who has been at United since the age of 10, has represented England at Under-19 level, scoring once in three caps.

Laird will face competition for a starting place in Scott Parker’s side, with Jack Stacey and Adam Smith, also right-backs, available to the Cherries’ manager.

In a statement on Bournemouth’s website, the club’s Chief Executive Neill Blake said the following on the move: “Ethan is an exciting prospect and we are very pleased to have brought him on board. His style of play fits perfectly with ours and I’m confident he can help us build on what has been an excellent first half of the season.

“He has impressed during his two previous loan spells and is very well thought of at Manchester United, so we couldn’t be happier to have secured his services.”

Laird has only featured twice for United so far in his career, making two Europa League appearances during the 2019-20 campaign.

He becomes the second youngster to leave the Red Devils on loan in recent days, with Teden Mengi joining Birmingham City on a short-term deal earlier this week.