Manchester United poach Liverpool winger Konde as Inglethorpe warns of 'distorted' teen market

Konde's move to Old Trafford

Last week, Manchester United signed 16-year-old winger Isaac Konde from Liverpool on a one-year scholarship followed by a five-year professional deal. Both clubs are now in talks over a compensation package.

The move is the latest illustration of a fiercely competitive market for teenage talent. In February, a tribunal ruled Liverpool must pay at least £2.8m to Chelsea for Rio Ngumoha. The 18-year-old left Chelsea in September 2024 to join the Reds and signed his first professional contract a year later.

'Earning the right'

At the Kirkby academy, phones are handed in on a morning and there is a clause in contracts with a maximum engine size limit for cars that are driven into academy premises.

"It comes back to passing your audition. First impressions matter," says Inglethorpe. "Often before you've kicked a ball, the car you drive or the watch you wear can have an impact on how you're thought of - and that could be first team staff or players looking at you. We've believed in the idea of 'earning the right' for some time."

A 'distorted' market

At Liverpool, the belief is they have been sensible and responsible with a view to deferred gratification in most cases, but the wage structure is currently under review.

"It's always a compliment when other clubs want your players as it means you're doing something right," says Inglethorpe. "But I think the market of players at 16 is distorted because of Brexit and because you can't recruit like you would do before. There's always been movement of players but it feels a little more extreme now.

"When there's a clamour for talent - fees, wages and everything else will shift accordingly, so it's dealing with what we have and adapting to a new situation."