Manchester United are said to be very excited at the prospect of signing young midfielder Cristian Orozco from Colombian side Fortaleza next summer.
Since Michael Carrick’s retirement in 2018, many believe the team have lacked a reliable core in the middle of the pitch, with players such as Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, and Casemiro struggling to maintain consistency despite their quality and experience.
While United plan to pursue a top-level midfielder next summer, with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton among their main targets, they are also focusing on a parallel strategy: investing in young, unpolished prospects.
Over the past year, the club have looked beyond Europe to recruit emerging talents like Sekou Kone and Diego Leon at modest prices, nurturing their development in-house.
Now, they have secured another promising youngster ahead of next summer with the name of Cristian Orozco.
Orozco to United full details
Orozco is a promising young Colombian midfielder, and at 17 years old, has been the captain of the Colombian youth national side.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, United will pay his current club Fortaleza around £740,000 once he completes his move next summer.
Orozco is set to join in July 2026, once he turns 18, with his birthday on July 13, 2026, as the lawyers have approved all necessary contracts.
Romano also added that the deal has been orchestrated by United’s lead scout in South America, Giuseppe Antonaccio.
What United have been saying about Orozco
Speaking further on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that United feel they have found a “gem” in signing Orozco, although it will take time for him to settle once he joins the club next summer.
“All documents have been approved, all documents have been signed. Manchester United will bring in this boy in July 2026 when he will turn 18 years old — he’s 17 now,” Romano said. “Colombia player, defensive midfielder, intensity, good player with the potential.
“Manchester United are convinced that they found the gem with this player. Obviously that is going to be about the potential: training, work hard, improve.
“English football is not South American football, so there is going to be obviously some time needed to see how this boy will perform.”
Of United’s young recruits, such as Kone and Leon, the plan has so far seen the talents bed themselves in with the U18s and U21s, although Leon has also already been involved in some of the matchday squads under Amorim.
The club also have Enzo Kana-Biyik in their ranks after signing from Le Harve in the summer, but he was sent on loan to Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport, where he unfortunately suffered a knee injury in August.
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