Manchester United are on the verge of finalising the transfer of highly-rated 17-year-old defensive midfielder Cristian Orozco, with the move expected to be completed next month.
United reached a preliminary agreement with Colombian club Fortaleza CEIF last September for the youngster to join in the summer of 2026. However, because Orozco is still 17, he was unable to complete the transfer until he turns 18, so he remained with Fortaleza for the rest of the season.
During the campaign, the teenager was named in 11 first-team squads and made four appearances in Colombia’s top division — two from the bench and two starts.
In December, Orozco was flown over to Manchester for a familiarisation visit. He was given a tour of both the Carrington training complex and Old Trafford, and took part in training sessions with United’s academy sides.
Orozco is regarded as one of Colombia’s brightest young prospects after helping his country reach the final of the U17 South American Championship last year. He has been earmarked by United as a player with genuine long-term first-team potential.
His profile is seen as similar to that of Sekou Kone, the Malian midfielder who joined United’s academy from Guidars FC for around £1 million in the summer of 2024. Like Kone, who impressed at the U17 World Cup, Orozco caught the eye of United’s scouts with his strong performances at the South American U17 tournament.
In recent years, United have increased their focus on signing young talents from outside Europe, largely due to post-Brexit work permit restrictions that make it more difficult to sign players from EU countries.
This strategy has already seen them sign Paraguayan defender Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno last summer for an initial £3.3 million (potentially rising to £7m with add-ons). Leon spent his first season exclusively with the academy. Similarly, Sekou Kone missed the first half of the season through injury before being sent on loan to Ineos-owned Swiss club FC Lausanne-Sport.
United view these types of signings — young, high-potential players acquired at relatively modest fees — as low-risk, high-reward investments for the future.
