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.
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"Each of them will hugely benefit from this unique learning opportunity, playing senior football in a competitive environment whenever we agree that the time is right for both clubs. We want to thank Altrincham for their support and look forward to the numerous benefits that this scheme will provide to everyone involved."
Hugill was one of a number of talented teenagers developed by the club's academy that were sold by Sunderland's then-owners Madrox during their two-and-a-half years in control of the club between 2018 and 2021. Winger Sam Greenwood departed for Arsenal in 2018, goalkeeper Luke Hewitson left to join Liverpool in 2019, defender Logan Pye joined Manchester United along with Hugill in 2020, and midfielder Luca Stephenson joined Liverpool in 2020.
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