Deal Done as Man Utd decide to re-sign free agent midfielder over two decades after he left club

Deal Done as Man Utd decide to re-sign free agent midfielder over two decades after he left club

Former Manchester United academy talent Tommy Rowe has rejoined the club as a player-coach some 21 years after leaving to embark on a lengthy EFL career.

Rowe was on United’s books as a teenager but left in 2003 to join Stockport County, where he made his senior debut four years later.

The Wythenshawe-born midfielder racked up more tnan 500 career EFL games, including in the Championship for Peterborough, Wolves and Bristol City, and was most recently on the books of Doncaster Rovers.

After leaving Rovers in June, he played for United’s under-21 side during a pre-season trial. The Under-21s are allowed up to five over-age players in Premier League 2 and EFL Trophy matches, with Tom Huddlestone filling the role last term.

Huddlestone left United for a full-time coaching role with Wigan Athletic, while Paul McShane – his predecessor in a player-coach role with United – is now just a coach after retiring from playing in 2022. Neither turned out for the first team, but both got minutes with the Under-21s.

Man Utd announce transfer deadline day arrival as teenage midfielder signs
Rowe, 35, made his Premier League 2 debut on August 16 and the club have now confirmed his signing officially.

“The experienced midfielder will create various unique development opportunities for United’s Academy players by coaching from within training sessions and driving daily standards on and off the pitch,” United said when announcing Rowe’s arrival.

The veteran has played the full 90 minutes of Under-21 matches against Arsenal, Stoke and Blackburn. He filled in at left-back in the third of those games, as goals from Ethan Ennis, Sam Mather and Gabriele Bianchieri gave United’s youngsters a 3-1 win.

Another new signing, Hubert Graczyk, was on the bench for the win. The Polish goalkeeper, 21, joined United after leaving Arsenal at the end of last season.

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United have also allowed a number of academy stars to leave on loan, with several securing EFL, non-league and overseas moves. James Nolan is among the recent departures, with the 18-year-old spending the season north of the border with Scottish League One side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Nolan made his debut for Duncan Ferguson’s team over the weekend, playing the final 23 minutes of a victory over Queen of the South. Sonny Aljofree is another United defender to earn a loan late in the window, linking up with Accrington Stanley after agreeing a contract extension with his parent club.

“I have done my first session at Accrington this morning and I have settled in well, I am buzzing to be with the lads,” the centre-back said. “I have been at Manchester United for the best part of my life, 13 years, that’s all I have known, and it’s a good time for me now to step out of my comfort zone, and try and get some appearances in the league