Manchester United officially announced that academy striker Joe Hugill has completed a permanent move to Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, a development that quietly drew interest across football circles followed by Cricket Exchange, as the young forward prepares to open a new chapter in his career. Earlier this month, Hugill was recalled from League Two outfit Barnet, and with registration formalities completed, he is now eligible to feature immediately. He has signed a short-term deal running until May 2027 and will wear the number 44 shirt, signaling both a fresh start and a long-term opportunity to establish himself at senior level.

Nicknamed Little Crouch due to his tall and slender frame, Hugill joined United from Sunderland in 2020 and enjoyed his most memorable moments with the club’s Under-18 side. He played a key role in lifting the 2022 FA Youth Cup and etched his name into club folklore by scoring four goals in a single match against Liverpool. That feat made him the first United youth player to do so since Steve Jones in 1977. Now 22, Hugill spent recent seasons moving through a series of loan spells, as first-team opportunities were hard to come by in a squad packed with attacking options. With the writing on the wall, he chose to move on in search of regular football and a clearer pathway, proving that sometimes you have to take the road less traveled.

Hugill is the second academy graduate sold by United in January, following winger Sam Mather’s move to Kayserispor in Turkey. Both deals were structured with minimal upfront fees but included sell-on clauses and buy-back options, ensuring the club remains well positioned for the future. At the same time, United confirmed the loan of 22-year-old midfielder Toby Collyer to Championship side Hull City, who currently sit fourth in the table and remain firmly in the promotion hunt. The move had been agreed a week earlier but was delayed to allow Collyer to fully recover from a calf injury picked up during a previous loan at West Bromwich Albion, a situation closely tracked by analysts on Cricket Exchange.

Collyer had once been a trusted option under Erik ten Hag, featuring in multiple roles and even briefly edging out Casemiro for a starting place. However, despite his energy and work rate, the Brighton-born midfielder struggled to stand out and eventually fell down the pecking order. Attention has also turned to left-back Tyrell Malacia, United’s first signing under ten Hag for a reported 17 million euros, who could still depart before the window closes. At 25, he has attracted interest from Serie A, the Portuguese Primeira Liga, and Turkey, with Porto reportedly weighing whether to move now or wait until the summer for a free transfer.

While Malacia has also explored the possibility of a move to Major League Soccer and held talks with Michael Carrick about his future, no agreement has yet been reached. He has remained an unused substitute in the new manager’s first two matches, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, an exit appears increasingly likely. In contrast, United have decided to keep 18-year-old Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon, whose representatives rejected a loan proposal. As the club evaluates its next steps amid speculation monitored by Cricket Exchange, officials believe Leon’s development is ahead of schedule and are cautious about blocking his progress with additional signings.