Manchester United have signed 14-year-old Town academy youngster Silva Mexes, the son of former Norwich City and Cardiff City striker Robert Earnshaw.

The forward had been watched by all the bigger clubs in the country before the Red Devils made their move and the player’s representatives and the two clubs had been in talks for some while before news of the switch first broke in March.

The Blues are likely to have received a sum up front followed by milestone top-ups as his career progresses.

“Very proud moment for me and my family to announce my signing forManchester United,” Mexes wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you for everyone who has helped me on my journey so far🙏🏽. The work starts now.”

Town have lost a number of young players to top Premier League sides in recent years. Last year, defender Calum Logan joined Tottenham Hotspur, while forward Marcelo Flores, now a full Mexico international and playing his club football with Tigres UANL, moved to Arsenal in 2019.

Another forward Ben Knight signed for Manchester City in 2018, the Blues having lost striker Charlie Brown, who is now with Morecambe, to Chelsea the previous year.

Harry Clarke moved to the Gunners in 2015 before returning to Town in January last year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Silva Mexes (@silva.mte)

Photo: Instagram

TresBonne added 12:41 - May 30 Need to get Cat 1 up and running ASAP.
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PortmanTerrorist added 12:43 - May 30 Remember so many negative comments about the likes of Charlie Brown and Knight when they left the Club. Given the state of the Club at the time you had to respect the decision, but look at where they are now and shows how imperative it is we are better, and provide a real pathway for young (esp local) players rather than allowing them to be chewed up by bigger Clubs for a chunk of cash. Having said that I wish young Mexes the best, but maybe keep in touch like Harry....the one real success story of the names mentioned, who came BACK to make it!

3

Churchman added 12:49 - May 30 We need a much better yoof system than we have, but sadly it won’t stop the large scale theft then abandonment by the big six clubs but it may make us less vulnerable. I wish the lad well.
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NITFC added 13:13 - May 30 ............followed by milestone top-ups "as his career progresses" Is that likely to happen? - yet another promising career traded in for a one off payday?
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rugbytomc added 13:33 - May 30 Always a bit gutted by stories like this. Unless you’re one of the big six it doesn’t matter what category or how good your academy is-it’s hard for players to turn down a move to those clubs
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Dissboyitfc added 13:38 - May 30 Is it a good idea to have agents at that age? Surely people around him should advise him! And surely the best advice is to stay put! Worked out well for that Gibbs as well!
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Radlett_blue added 13:51 - May 30 Liam Gibbs's career is progressing fine. He's only 21 & he's starting around half the games in a Championship play off contender. Would he have done as well, or better at Town?
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ArnieM added 14:07 - May 30 Good luck to him,, but I do wonder if we'll ever hear of him again. such as these big clubs hoover up talent and then they never get seen again....
2

Rozeeboy74 added 14:16 - May 30 Not totally convinced he will step straight into the number 7 shirt.
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Berchules added 17:47 - May 30 Silly boy.
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Texastom added 18:33 - May 30 What a waste.
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Ipswichbusiness added 23:29 - May 30 I wish the lad well. Few of our young players who are poached by other clubs seem to do well, so I fear that he is making a mistake. We really need to upgrade the academy.
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JewellintheTown added 09:04 - May 31 I'm assuming even if we upgrade the academy to cat 1, it still won't stop the upward flow to "bigger" Prem teams. Bigger supported, more fashionable, more spotlight, more glamour, & higher paying clubs will sadly poach our star struck youngsters like moths to a zapper. The structure of bigger clubs is bias towards their benefit only, & rules made to ultimately favour them to feed off the rest of us. No surprises there. Only need to see the ongoing farce of Man City rule breaking & how Everton escaped the drop, plus Leicester unpunished (this season) to see that. Glad to see us upsetting this though & trust MA & O'leary will have a plan to turn the tables. It's working so far & getting us new admirers & support in the process. We're in the best of hands.

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Help added 15:18 - May 31 What would you do if someone was offering you a better contract. Whatever your age. To do the job you love.
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ArmaghBlue added 17:51 - May 31 Another player never to be seen again, Ben Knight mk2
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