Leny Yoro has an opportunity to become the fourth Manchester United player to win the prestigious Golden Boy award after receiving a nomination.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made many changes to Manchester United as co-owner, including a shift in transfer strategy.
United have prioritised deals for younger players such as Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu and Diego Leon.
Ratcliffe has shown his patience with Ruben Amorim, and he will have the same level of faith in young players so long as they show signs of progression over time.
Ineos hijacked Real Madrid’s attempts to sign Yoro last year. The France Under-23 international has developed at a steady pace since then, despite missing the start of the 2024/25 campaign due to injury.
Yoro has made seven appearances for United this season, starting five games in the Premier League. He is expected to compete with Harry Maguire for a place in the team to face Liverpool on Sunday.
Leny Yoro could follow in Anthony Martial’s footsteps with Golden Boy award
The Golden Boy award is awarded to the best young player in Europe each year.
Yoro is the only United player to be nominated for the Golden Boy award in 2025, after being named on a 25-man list of nominees.
It has been 10 years since United last had a player win the award.
Anthony Martial picked up the award in 2015 following his mega-money move from AS Monaco.
The French striker, who is currently struggling for form in Mexico, was recognised for his exciting rise to prominence that year. That included a successful end to the season as Monaco came third in Ligue 1, a first senior cap for the France national team, and a promising start to his United career.
Martial saw off competition from Kingsley Coman and Hector Bellerin.
Sadly, Martial would not go on to reach expectations at United and left the club last year.
Who are Manchester United’s three Golden Boy winners?
As outlined in the segment above, Martial won the Golden Boy in 2015, becoming the third player in United’s history to do so.
Wayne Rooney became the first player in 2004, but it was shared between Everton and United because he moved to Old Trafford in the summer of that year and was an immediate sensation, scoring a hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
Four years later, Anderson took the award after winning the Premier League and Champions League as a young midfielder signed from FC Porto.
Yoro could become the next United player to win the award after his latest nomination. It’s a great achievement for the young defender.
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