03-07-2009, 04:58 PM
United have made another summer signing - 15-year-old defender Sean McGinty from Charlton Athletic.
The promising centre-half had been offered scholarship terms by the London club but with the Reds having tracked him for some time, McGinty has opted to switch to Old Trafford.
Although the Republic of Ireland U17 international is not contracted to the Addicks, the two clubs have agreed an undisclosed compensation package, which includes additional fees depending on the player’s progress at United.
Charlton chairman Richard Murray said: “To have a club like Manchester United tracking your youth players clearly shows the quality that our academy is currently producing.
“Of course, nothing would have made us happier than Sean coming through the ranks and representing our first team, and our coaches had high hopes for him. We did our utmost to persuade him to stay, but joining such a big Premier League club is obviously an attractive prospect, and Sean and his family made it clear that they wanted to move north to United.”
Murray added: “Manchester United have behaved entirely honourably throughout the process, and I’d like to thank them for that.”
Although only 15, McGinty represented both Charlton’s U18 side and reserves last season.
The promising centre-half had been offered scholarship terms by the London club but with the Reds having tracked him for some time, McGinty has opted to switch to Old Trafford.
Although the Republic of Ireland U17 international is not contracted to the Addicks, the two clubs have agreed an undisclosed compensation package, which includes additional fees depending on the player’s progress at United.
Charlton chairman Richard Murray said: “To have a club like Manchester United tracking your youth players clearly shows the quality that our academy is currently producing.
“Of course, nothing would have made us happier than Sean coming through the ranks and representing our first team, and our coaches had high hopes for him. We did our utmost to persuade him to stay, but joining such a big Premier League club is obviously an attractive prospect, and Sean and his family made it clear that they wanted to move north to United.”
Murray added: “Manchester United have behaved entirely honourably throughout the process, and I’d like to thank them for that.”
Although only 15, McGinty represented both Charlton’s U18 side and reserves last season.