Nigeria-eligible midfielder Oyedele leaves Old Trafford after 12 years to join Legia Warsaw

NIGERIA-eligible midfielder Max Oyedele has left English Premier League side Manchester United after 12 years of service and joined Polish Ekstraklasa team Legia Warsaw.

Oyedele, 19, is a versatile midfielder eligible to play for England, Poland and Nigeria as he has a Polish mother and Nigerian father but was born and raised in Salford in Greater Manchester. He was part of the Manchester United team that won the FA Youth Cup in May 2022, playing in every single round including the showpiece final against Nottingham Forest.

Previously, Oyedele spent time on loan at Altrincham and Forest Green Rovers, where he played in 12 and four games respectively, scoring four goals. He was named in Manchester United's travelling squad to the US for pre-season preparations and was given minutes by manager Erik ten Hag in all the friendly matches played there.

Furthermore, Oyedele was among the intake of Manchester United academy scholars for the 2021/22 season and went on to sign his first professional contract in May 2022. However, his time at Old Trafford now comes to an end as he joins two other academy players of Nigerian descent who have left as Shola Shoretire joins Paok in Greece and Majid Balogun moves to West Ham on a scholarship deal.

Oyedele has signed a three-year deal with Legia Warsaw and has been assigned the number six jersey for the 2024/25 campaign. So far, he has played 10 matches in total for Poland's U18, U19 and U21 national teams but is yet to feature for them at senior level, still making him eligible to play for Nigeria.