Manchester United have been hit by the voluntary exit of a key staff member, according to a report.
The Red Devils are hoping to have turned a corner on the field after Ruben Amorim found himself under heavy pressure a the start of the season following a string of poor results.
But after Sir Jim Ratcliffe opted to back the Portuguese, the club beat Sunderland 2-0 at the weekend to climb up to 10th in the Premier League table in what could trigger an upturn in form.
Off the field, though, there have been various other changes, particularly since Ratcliffe took the reins after buying a minority stake in the club in February 2024.
The British billionaire has become synonymous with his cost-cutting measures that have included getting rid of a paid-for staff canteen and stripping Sir Alex Ferguson of his ambassadorial status.
The latest departure, though, comes as a blow to United. The Athletic report that head of academy recruitment Luke Fedorenko is set to leave the club on the back of an eight-year stay that has helped progress the Red Devils’ academy.
Manchester United have been hit by the voluntary exit of a behind-the-scenes staff member
Luke Fedorenko has been working with the club since 2017 but is now set to join a major football agency
Fedorenko helped sign teenage talent JJ Gabriel, who has been dubbed as ‘the next Neymar’
Fedorenko, 35, is said to have accepted an offer to work for a major football agency on the back of his United exit. His main job role was to refocus the recruitment on local and national talent.
He joined the club in 2017 as part of Project Bethlehem, which was a scheme that bid to build and modernise the recruitment department after suggestion the academy at the club was underfunded and outdated.
Fedorenko joined the club from Sheffield United and became the lead scout for players aged nine to 11. He was then promoted to head of local recruitment in 2021 and then became head of academy recruitment in 2023.
Some of his more notable work surrounded the rise of the likes of striker Chido Obi, the club’s youngest-ever academy starter, and the progress of Ayden Heaven. Both joined from Arsenal, with Fedorenko having focused on London at the time in a bid to convince talent to move north.
He also helped sign JJ Gabriel, who, according to The Express, has been dubbed as ‘the next Neymar’.
During his time at the club, academy graduates funded over £200million in player sales – including the likes of Anthony Elanga and Scott McTominay.
He also build a new recruitment team at United, having initially joined with Nick Cox, who recently left his role of head of the academy to join Everton. Steven Torpey, Cox’s replacement, will now be given the opportunity to join build own team.
United have named at least one academy graduate in a matchday squad for the last 87 years. Kobbie Mainoo is among the players keeping that run going today.
