Outpacing Barca, MU is about to secure a promising 17-year-old talent

Manchester United is nearing an agreement with Mouhamed Dabo, the U17 Senegal captain, after surpassing fierce competition from Barcelona.

Manchester United is close to acquiring the signature of Mouhamed Dabo, the Senegal U17 captain, following the young talent’s impressive trial period at the Carrington training center.

According to sources from Africa Foot, Dabo has entered the final stages of negotiations and is “very close” to becoming a new recruit for the Red Devils. This news raises hopes among fans for a new raw gem from Africa to join MU’s youth academy.

During several weeks of training in Manchester, Dabo impressed the coaching staff with his technical style, ball control, and maturity beyond his years. Insider reports describe him as a player with “innate talent and intelligent football thinking,” promising to be a standout if nurtured in the right environment.

However, MU is not the only club interested in Dabo. Barcelona has also been closely monitoring the 17-year-old after he spent a month training at La Masia, the famed academy that produced stars like Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta. Nevertheless, signs indicate MU holds the advantage as the president of Bsport Académie, Dabo’s current club, has traveled to England to finalize the last procedures.

If the deal succeeds, Dabo will be the second young African signing in the past two years, following Sekou Kone (Mali) who joined in 2024. This shows MU’s ongoing strategy to invest in young talent from Africa, a continent regarded as a fertile ground for world football.

Last season, Dabo played 14 matches for Bsport’s U21 team and scored 2 goals. Although he has yet to play professionally, he is considered a promising talent with great potential for development if trained in a top-level football environment.

Despite competition from Barcelona, MU’s clear advantage places Mouhamed Dabo’s future at a critical crossroads. Choosing Old Trafford would allow the 17-year-old midfielder to continue the tradition of producing world-class stars at one of football’s most successful clubs in history.