Manchester United’s low-key signing on transfer deadline day was a deal for young midfielder Sekou Kone.Sekou Kone is the Mali under-17s World Cup star who hopes to make it big at Manchester United. The Red Devils saw off competition other top European clubs to win the race for his signature in the summer.
Kone has been compared to Michael Essien and at just 18-years-old, United have high hopes that he will make progress into the first team.
For now, Kone is set to begin with United’s academy teams, and was in the stands at Old Trafford to watch the first team beat Barnsley 7-0 in midweek, Erik ten Hag’s biggest win as manager of the club.
Sekou Kone is being made to feel welcome at Old Trafford and around Carrington. He was in attendance at the match in midweek with under-18s talent Sekou Kaba.
He has also been made to feel welcome by a young Manchester United supporter who has gifted him his own personalised shinpads.
One shinpad features a picture of Kone with his World Cup third place medal, and the other an image of Kone proudly posing with his Manchester United shirt.
Manchester United’s academy teams are in action this weekend, although it is unclear whether Sekou Kone is deemed match-ready, or is being purely restricted to fitness work at this early stage.
United’s under-18s are away at Middlesbrough this Saturday in a 12.30 kick-off, looking to keep up their 100 per cent record to start the season.
United’s under-21s will be playing their first match since the international break, looking for a fourth consecutive win.
The 21s take on Manchester City at 12pm, which would be a huge academy game for Kone to make his debut in.
If he did, then he would be following in big footsteps. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho both made their debuts for United’s under-18s against Manchester City back in 2020.