In the summer of 2014, Manchester United signed 18-year-old left-back Luke Shaw from Southampton for £27 million, making him one of the most expensive teenage defenders at the time and the fourth-costliest defender ever, behind David Luiz, Thiago Silva, and Rio Ferdinand.
United saw Shaw as a long-term investment, confident that he could be their left-back for at least the next decade. Despite various challenges, Shaw has proven to be a worthwhile acquisition, becoming one of the Premier League’s and world football’s top left-backs.
Shaw has played 275 games for United, earning the Player of the Year award in 2019, and this past summer, he started for England against Spain in the final of the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
As Shaw celebrates 10 years at Old Trafford, a new prospect has emerged—17-year-old Harry Amass, who could soon provide serious competition for the veteran left-back.
Amass, a young Londoner, has taken advantage of Shaw’s absence during pre-season to make a strong case for himself, particularly in the early part of the new season.
With Shaw recovering after the European Championship and Tyrell Malacia out since May 2023, Amass impressed during United’s pre-season tour. Although Erik ten Hag has expressed doubts about Amass’s readiness, the full-back shortage at Manchester United—compounded by injuries to Mazraoui, Shaw, and Malacia—may lead to Amass making his senior team debut sooner than expected.
Luke Shaw’s decade at Manchester United has seen its share of highs and lows, but he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top left-backs. Signed in 2014 for £27 million, Shaw arrived as a highly-touted teenager, expected to be United’s long-term option at left-back. Through injuries and form struggles, he has played 275 games for the club, winning the Player of the Year award in 2019, and representing England at major international tournaments, including the recent Euro 2024 final.
As Shaw celebrates 10 years at United, 17-year-old Harry Amass has emerged as a promising talent who could soon challenge him for the starting role. Amass capitalized on Shaw’s absence during the pre-season, showing impressive performances despite Erik ten Hag’s concerns about his readiness for the senior team. With United suffering from injuries to Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Noussair Mazraoui, Amass might be called upon sooner than expected to fill the void at left-back. His development could set up an intriguing competition between youth and experience at Manchester United in the near future.
