Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Boateng Mainoo (born 19 April 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.

Mainoo is a graduate of Manchester United's youth system and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2023. He made his first-team debut in an EFL Cup match in January 2023. Mainoo played for England from under-17 youth level, before making his debut for the senior team in March 2024.

Early life
Kobbie Boateng Mainoo was born on 19 April 2005 in Stockport, Greater Manchester, to parents from Ghana. His older brother is Jordan Mainoo-Hames, who appeared as a contestant on the fifth series of Love Island. He was raised in Cheadle Hulme, a suburb of Stockport, and started his youth career at Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club. He was scouted for Manchester United at the age of six, signed up at the age of seven, and joined the academy at the age of nine.

Youth career
Mainoo signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in May 2022. His performances earned him a call-up to the first-team squad for training in October.

Mainoo was named on the bench for the first time on 16 October, for a Premier League match against Newcastle United, followed by making his senior debut on 10 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 home win over Charlton Athletic in the EFL Cup. He made his league debut on 19 February by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 home win against Leicester City in the Premier League.

2023–24: Breakthrough
Mainoo travelled with the Manchester United squad on their 2023–24 pre-season tour in the United States. However, he picked up an injury which kept him out for the start of the upcoming season. Returning from injury, Mainoo made his first league start for Manchester United on 26 November 2023, in a 3–0 Premier League victory away to Everton, in which he was named man of the match. On 29 November, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, coming off the bench in a group stage 3–3 away draw against Galatasaray.

On 28 January 2024, Mainoo scored his first goal for Manchester United in a 4–2 win away to Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round. A few days later, on 1 February, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 4–3 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the winning goal coming in the seventh minute of stoppage time. The goal was later awarded Premier League Goal of the Month for February 2024. On 7 April, he netted his first professional goal at Old Trafford in a 2–2 draw with rivals Liverpool in the Premier League.

In the FA Cup final, Mainoo scored the eventual winning goal in a 2–1 victory over local rivals Manchester City. He became the first English teenager to score in a final since Steve MacKenzie in 1981 and the youngest since John Sissons in 1964. His performances for the season were widely praised, with him being nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.

International career
Mainoo has represented England at under-17, under-18, and under-19 youth levels, and at the senior level.

In March 2024, Mainoo was called up to the senior squad for the first time for England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, after previously being drafted for the under-21s. Aged 18, he made his debut on 23 March as a substitute for Conor Gallagher in a 1–0 defeat to Brazil at Wembley Stadium. He made his first England start in a 2–2 draw against Belgium, in which he was named man of the match.

On 6 June, Mainoo was named in England's 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He made his competitive debut in the team's opening match, playing the last four minutes as a substitute for Jude Bellingham in a 1–0 win over Serbia. On 25 June, he played the second half against Slovenia in a 0–0 draw in the team's final group stage match, replacing Conor Gallagher at half time. In the round of 16 match against Slovakia, he became the third-youngest player to start for England at a knockout stage of a major tournament in a 2–1 win. On 10 July, in a 2–1 win in the semi-finals against Netherlands, he became the youngest England player to play a semi-final of a major tournament. Four days later, he started in the final, which ended in a 2–1 defeat to Spain.

Style of play
Mainoo is primarily a central midfielder who is also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder. An intelligent and composed player, he excels in driving the ball forward, using his dribbling skills to navigate through tight spaces and evade defenders. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has compared his style of play to that of Clarence Seedorf. Manager Erik ten Hag has praised his ability to "quickly adapt to high levels", as well as his willingness to progress and develop as a player. Pundit and former United midfielder Paul Scholes praised him, saying that "Just love the way he receives the ball, the calmness, the awareness of what's around him, and of course big goals in big games."

Honours
Manchester United U18
 * FA Youth Cup: 2021–22

Manchester United
 * FA Cup: 2023–24

England
 * UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2024

Individual
 * Premier League Goal of the Month: February 2024
 * Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2022–23