Liverpool youth player Ethan Ennis has turned down a new contract offer from the club, choosing between Manchester United and Chelsea to join the team’s arch rivals, the Red Devils.
Ethan Ennis – one of Liverpool’s most popular young players
The 16-year-old right-footed midfielder is also capable of playing as a second striker. Born on December 11, 2004, the 178cm tall player is one of Liverpool’s most popular young players.
Ennis scored three goals in the Youth FA Cup last season, helping Liverpool’s Under-19s to reach the final of the competition. That included eliminating the Manchester United youth team. In the EPL Under-18 Youth League, Ennis made seven appearances, scoring two goals and assisting once.
Player transfer history between Liverpool and Manchester United
But now he has become one of the few players to join United directly from Liverpool, albeit in the youth system, and it was enough to bring him the wrath of the Anfield fans.
Liverpool’s Echo newspaper claims that Ennis was contacted by both Manchester United and Chelsea while negotiating a new contract with Liverpool. Earlier this month, Ennis did visit Chelsea’s Cobham training ground in London, but ultimately decided to join Manchester United. He also rejected Liverpool’s offer and publicly announced on social media sites that he has become a Manchester United player.
In total, only nine players have moved directly between Manchester United and Liverpool in the history of the game. And the most recent one, already in 1964, when Phil Chisnall joined Liverpool from Manchester United for a transfer fee of £25,000. And the last person to move directly from Liverpool to Manchester United was Allenby Cheldon in November 1938.
In the Premier League era, England back Paul Ince played for Manchester United and Liverpool, but joined Inter Milan in the middle, not a direct jump. Argentine defender Heinze, who was crowned Manchester United’s best player of the season, tried to join Liverpool when he left the team, causing an uproar, and the Red Devils were firmly against it. He eventually had to travel to La Liga to join Real Madrid.
Mark Jurado and Alejandro Garnaccio, both youth players from Manchester United, followed suit and welcomed Ennis.
Manchester United missed out on the Youth League title last season
Last season in the youth league, Manchester United led at one point. However, they ended up one point behind Manchester City and unfortunately only finished second in the North Division. The Blue Moon beat Fulham, the first in the South Division, in the final to win the championship.
Ennis and his new Manchester United teammates will be back in the new season, striving for the league title and hoping to go far in the Youth FA Cup as well. The last time the young Red Devils won the FA Cup was back in 2011 in the era of Pogba, Lingard and Ravel Morrison.
But it won’t be easy for United’s young strikers to make a name for themselves. Solskjaer’s first-team squad is still very young with Rashford 23, Sancho 22 and Mason Greenwood under 20.
