Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's first signing for Manchester United has been rewarded with a new long-term contract.
Noam Emeran, 19, has put pen to paper on a fresh deal with the Red Devils which keeps him at Old Trafford until 2024, with the option of an additional year. The winger was signed from French side Amiens in January 2019, just weeks into Solskjaer's uber-successful spell as interim manager.
United fought off competition from European giants Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus to secure his signature, and now Emeran has further committed his future to the 20-time English champions. The Frenchman has impressed in the Red Devils' academy set-up since his arrival and recently scored in the Under-23's draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Emeran also has a chance to feature in the FA Youth Cup final against Nottingham Forest, with more than 48,000 expected to be in attendance at the Theatre of Dreams.
Blessed with plenty of ability, the France youth international will also be looking to make none other than Wayne Rooney proud if given an opportunity in the showpiece, having once been lucky enough to receive some advice from the Old Trafford legend.
When injury ended his 2020-21 season early and United missed out on the Under-18 title to rivals Manchester City by just one point, Rooney lent Emeran a helping hand. "He told me, 'A player makes good or bad his career choice based on his determination'," the teenager revealed to Le Parisien. "I realised that I had to be demanding of myself."
Speaking of United legends, Solskjaer hinted at the likes of Emeran being part of his legacy during his farewell interview with manutd.com following his sacking in November. He declared: "The board and the owners have backed me in [terms of] bringing good people in, good players in and I think, or I know, I leave this club with a better squad.
"The environment is fantastic, it's an environment I'm proud of leaving because you have to enjoy coming in here working. I don't want to pre-empt anything but the two times I've left Molde, they've won the league the year after, so all the best to whoever takes over – that's the expectation!"
Emeran has bagged two goals and two assists in 13 Premier League 2 appearances this campaign and his impressive term was capped by training with the first-team during the March international break. The 19-year-old has also started nine of his last 11 league games for the Red Devils' U23s.
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Emeran first began to get fans talking when he scored scored five goals and registered six assists across 16 appearances for the U18s in the 2021-22 season. He made his professional debut in an EFL Trophy clash with Bradford City last September, helping his side romp to a 3-0 win.
Upon signing for United, Emeran said: "I chose Man Utd after discussing it with my family. I think United were my best option from the offers I had to enable me to play at the top level. It is now down to me to put in the work needed to reach my targets and fulfil my dreams."
