Manchester United have announced the signing of England Under-17 international Karim Cassim from rivals Manchester City.

The Red Devils continue to recruit young talent as they strengthen their academy ranks under INEOS.

Highly rated midfielder Cassim joins as part of a wider push to strengthen Manchester United's academy ranks.

The 17-year-old is regarded as a promising midfielder, with some sources comparing his style of play to Carlos Baleba's.

Manchester United Complete Karim Cassim Signing

Manchester United have officially confirmed that Karim Cassim has joined them after a wait for his registration to be completed.

The young midfielder has made the cross-city move to Manchester United after coming through Manchester City's academy.

The deal was already agreed weeks ago, but Manchester United had to be patient while the Premier League ratified the transfer, and the youngster was unavailable for official games.

Karim Cassim stood out at Manchester City for his strong ball-carrying and technical qualities, as well as his eye for goal.

The teenager primarily operates as a central/holding midfielder, and has the physicality, goalscoring ability, and technical ability to operate as a progressive No. 8.

Highly-valued in the youth circles in England, Cassim represents a major recruitment coup for Carrington Academy director Stephen Torpey and technical director Jason Wilcox.

INEOS Youth Recruitment Drive: Why Carrington Is Raiding Rival Academies

The Red Devils have embarked on an aggressive youth recruitment initiative to comprehensively rebuild their academy infrastructure.

The club lost youth prospects such as James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye to rivals Arsenal this summer, but they have also brought in several young players to bolster their ranks.

Alongside Cassim, United have also finalized deals for City defender David Eze and are finalizing Premier League clearance for Liverpool prospect Isaac Konde.

They have already signed 18-year-olds Tynan Thompson from Tottenham Hotspur and Cristian Orozco, adding further players to their youth ranks.

Their moves so far underscore a clear plan and directive to bring together top-tier age-group talent at Carrington, in a bid to build on their youth team's quality performance from the 2025-26 season.

What Young Players Can Learn From Karim Cassim's Manchester Move

Young players must understand the need to prioritise a clear pathway to first-team football at every stage of their youth careers.

When choosing to move somewhere, the player must evaluate whether such a club offers a genuine, structured route into senior matchday squads.

Young players should also learn to adapt quickly to tactical variety, as developing versatility makes them far more flexible and attractive to managers.

Cassim had to wait for the conclusion of an extended ratification process, but kept his head down and kept working while he waited for clearance to play. It is crucial for young players to stay match-ready in such periods, as it would prevent further delays.