In the summer of 2014, Manchester United made a significant move by signing 18-year-old Luke Shaw from Southampton for £27 million. At the time, this deal made Shaw one of the most expensive teenage defenders and placed him as the fourth-costliest defender in history, following David Luiz, Thiago Silva, and Rio Ferdinand.
United viewed Shaw as a long-term asset, believing he could solidify the left-back position for at least a decade. Despite facing various setbacks over the years, Shaw has lived up to his potential, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s elite left-backs and earning global recognition.
Shaw has accumulated 275 appearances for United and was named Player of the Year in 2019. Most recently, he played a key role for England, starting in the final against Spain during the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
Now, as Shaw marks his 10th year at Old Trafford, another young talent is stepping into the spotlight—17-year-old Harry Amass. The promising defender may soon challenge Shaw for his spot in the team.
With Shaw absent for much of the pre-season and Tyrell Malacia sidelined since May 2023, Amass has taken advantage of the opportunity, delivering strong performances during United’s pre-season tour. Despite Erik ten Hag’s concerns about Amass’s readiness, Manchester United’s current shortage of full-backs—due to injuries to Mazraoui, Shaw, and Malacia—could see the youngster making his senior debut earlier than anticipated.
