Manchester United Pull Off Surprise Double Signing on Deadline Day

Manchester United secured a last-minute loan deal for Sam Mather and Louis Jackson to join Tranmere Rovers until the season end. Mather, 20, has scored three goals since returning from injury and previously netted six in nine U21 games. He signed a contract until 2027 and previously gained senior experience at Rochdale through United flexi-loan system.

For the second half of the 2024/25 season, Manchester United secured last-minute loan moves for academy talents Sam Mather and Louis Jackson to Tranmere Rovers. The club initially had no plans for additional loan departures, but a late deal was finalized on deadline day.

Mather, 20, has been in impressive form since recovering from injury, scoring three goals in his last two games. He previously missed three consecutive Under-21 matches between November and January but returned strongly. A key figure in United’s youth setup, he signed a new three-year contract in August 2024, extending his stay at Old Trafford until 2027. In the first half of the 2023/24 season, he scored six goals in nine Under-21 appearances before joining Rochdale on a flexi-loan, netting twice in 10 National League games.

United's flexi-loan system, introduced in 2023, allows young players to gain senior experience while remaining connected to the club’s training environment. Mather, who played a crucial role in United’s 2021/22 FA Youth Cup-winning squad, has also trained with the senior team. His loan spell at Tranmere in League Two aims to aid his development, alongside Jackson, as both players look to make their mark in senior football.