Evie Rabjohn signing indicates long-term plan at Man Utd
Manchester United are showing ambition to plan for the long-term after sealing the signing of 18-year-old full-back Evie Rabjohn from fellow WSL side Aston Villa.
Rabjohn had played in a handful of first-team games for Villa this season, including 90 minutes in their 5-0 thrashing of Leicester in March. But United were able to poach the emerging talent ahead of her recent 18th birthday in late April without paying a compensation fee because of her age.
Players in the women’s game cannot sign a professional contract until the age of 18 and there are not rules in place like on the men’s side to protect clubs if academy talents decide to leave before then.
With the deal now announced, the highly-rated Rabjohn has immediately started training with United. However, her move will only be officially registered in the summer when the transfer window opens ahead of 2023/24. It means she will not play in the final month of the WSL season.
United boss Marc Skinner has been watching Rabjohn for a long time already.
“Evie is a fantastic young player that I have known since she was ten years old, and whose progress I have been monitoring ever since,” he said. “We are delighted Evie has agreed to join us, and her signing again shows the long-term vision of this great football club.”
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Rabjohn is not the only youngster who has been on United’s radar. Aside from having one of the best youth production lines in the country, as evidenced by last season’s WSL Academy league and cup double and strong showing in both competitions again in 2022/23, there are plans to recruit and develop young players from elsewhere with long-term potential.
Rangers and Scotland talent Emma Watson is on course to sign for the club, as 90min revealed last month, having initially turned down a move last summer aged 16 due to the opportunity to play first-team football if she stayed in Glasgow.
Brighton’s 20-year-old Katie Robinson, a player in with a chance of going to the World Cup with England this summer and therefore ready for immediate first-team action, is another of interest.
Skinner has shown this season that he is prepared to make players first-team regulars at a young age if they prove they are up to the challenge, with Maya Le Tissier starting every WSL game since joining from Brighton and only recently celebrating her 21st birthday.
Grace Clinton has had a much slower route to the team amid competition for places but was later able to thrive on loan with Bristol City instead and help the club get back into the WSL.
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