Manchester United are releasing 10 players today following their expiration of their contracts.
Angel Gomes heads up the list of departing academy-produced stars, with June 30th the final day of many contracts around world football.
As well as Gomes, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Demetri Mitchell, Ethan Hamilton, Dion McGhee, George Tanner, Aidan Barlow, Kieran O’Hara, Alex Fojticek and Largie Ramazani are all to depart Old Trafford today (Tuesday).
Although FIFA has introduced measures allowing clubs to extend deals on a short-term basis until the current season is finished - as it's been extended beyond the end of June due to the coronavirus pandemic - many players are set to become free agents as of Wednesday.
Gomes is the headline act in terms of the players set to bid farewell to United. There will be many at the club who are saddened by the 19-year-old's imminent departure, given his obvious ability, having been tipped for a big Old Trafford future. But he wants more assurances over playing time and will seek a new club.
Having made his debut in May 2017 under Jose Mourinho, Gomes hasn't risen as quickly as some imagined into the United first team. He's only made six first team appearances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season.
United are understood to have submitted several contract offers to the player, though he and his representatives have not agreed to sign an extension.
"You can ask Angel why he's not signed," Solskjaer said. "He's not signed yet, I don't know what the talks are behind the scenes.
"Angel's a top kid. Of course there are people around him that advise him to do different things. If he doesn't sign, all the best to Angel and I'm going to follow his career. If he signs for us, let's kick on."
Tahith Chong signed a new contract earlier this season, while United remain invested in young talents such as James Garner, Teden Mengi and Ethan Laird, with Solskjaer recently confirming the latter would soon join the senior training group.
The club are not allowing any player under the age of 19 to leave at this stage, with the academy committed to offering support to its players past and present while the coronavirus pandemic is still having an impact on football.
All the players being released are 19 or older and, for the likes of Barlow, Hamilton, O'Hara and Tanner who have had loan spells elsewhere, it will now give them a chance to secure new permanent clubs.
Left-back pair Borthwick-Jackson and Mitchell both depart too, having appeared close to the United first team at one stage.
The former, now 22, played 14 times after being handed a debut by Louis van Gaal but struggled on loan at Leeds, before more recent loan spells at Scunthorpe, Tranmere and Oldham. Mitchell, 23, made his senior bow under Mourinho and despite spending time at Hearts, hasn't been close to the first team squad under Solskjaer.
Full back McGhee is attracting transfer interest from the Netherlands, Scotland and lower down the English football pyramid
It's understood that a contract was offered to forward Ramazani, though the Belgian-born player, 19, has opted to seek a future elsewhere.
