Man United Aims for Profit with Sell-On Clauses as Arsenal Targets Academy Players

Manchester United are braced to lose two more academy products this summer – but they intend to make sure the departures keep paying out.

Arsenal are closing in on deals for right-back Habeeb Ogunneye and winger James Scanlon, with United inserting what are described as significant sell-on clauses into both transfers.

Ogunneye, 20, has already undergone a medical with the Gunners ahead of a proposed switch from Old Trafford, according to The Athletic. Scanlon, 19, is also understood to be close to finalising his own move to north London.

On paper, both transfers are expected to go through as free moves. In reality, United are treating them as long-term investments. Any major future sale by Arsenal would trigger a sizeable windfall back to Manchester.

This is the modern academy game. Producing first-team players remains the ideal outcome, but under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, clubs have increasingly turned their youth systems into revenue engines.

Chelsea have set the benchmark. Their production line has already generated more than £400million in transfer fees, a huge stream of “pure profit” under the old PSR (profit and sustainability) rules because homegrown players cost nothing to acquire.

United are trying to catch up.

Both Ogunneye and Scanlon are familiar faces to Arsenal’s new under-21s head coach David Horseman, who spent four months working in United’s academy. Arsenal are betting on potential; United are betting on their clauses.

The strategy is already visible across this window.

Last week, winger Ethan Ennis left for League One side Stockport County. Before him, Ethan Williams joined Peterborough United, goalkeeper Radek Vitek moved to Middlesbrough, and defender Tyler Fredricson signed for Ineos-owned Lausanne Sport.

The pattern is clear. Williams’ exit included a 50 per cent sell-on clause, a buyback option and matching rights. Vitek went for what has been described as a substantial fee that could rise to £14m, with a 35 per cent sell-on, plus buyback and matching rights again written in. Fredricson’s deal carried a “high percentage” sell-on and a buyback clause of its own.

United are not just letting youngsters drift away. They are wiring every deal with levers for the future.

It all feeds into Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for a self-sustaining academy. Speaking on The Business Podcast last October, the Ineos chief laid out the logic in blunt terms: “You need the academy to be producing talent all the time. It helps you financially.”

United’s youth ranks are now being asked to do both jobs at once – supply players and supply profit. If Ogunneye and Scanlon kick on at Arsenal, those “free” transfers could end up looking very expensive for someone else, and very smart for United.