Former Sunderland youngster Joe Hugill has joined non-league Altrincham on loan - two-and-a-half years after leaving the Black Cats to join Manchester United. The striker came through the ranks at the Academy of Light but the then-16 year-old left for Old Trafford in the summer of 2020 in a £300,000 deal.
Hugill is now 19 and has yet to play a senior game, prompting the Red Devils to allow him to join National League Altrincham as part of a double loan deal which will also see Sonny Aljofree move to Moss Lane. Under the terms of the youth loan deals, both players will continue to train with Manchester United and be eligible for Premier League 2 games, as well as for Altrincham.
Hugill and Aljofree's academy teammate Maxi Oyedele joined Altrincham on loan earlier this month. Manchester United's head of player development and coaching Travis Binnion said: "We are really pleased to launch this scheme and enable three players to gain excellent experience of non-league football.
