Manchester United Advancing in Talks to Sign Leicester City Midfielder Louis Page

Manchester United are understood to be progressing in talks to sign highly regarded 18-year-old Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, amid keen interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Stretford Paddock understands that Arsenal have recently had a bid rejected for the England under-20 international, with Page favouring a move to Manchester United, whom he grew up supporting. Aston Villa have also held talks for the highly rated midfielder, but United are currently thought to lead the race for his signature. United’s interest in Page was first reported today by the BBC’s Sami Mokbel.

Because Page signed his first professional contract with Leicester in September 2025, United would need to agree a transfer fee with the League One club rather than land him on a compensation package, as would have been the case had he left as a free agent.

Born on July 10th, 2008 in the Leicestershire town of Lutterworth, Page was immersed in the world of football from a young age, with his father Donald Page a former professional player who enjoyed stints at Altrincham and Wigan Athletic. He joined Leicester City’s academy at pre-academy (under-9) level and quickly progressed through the age groups, consistently playing one or two years up at each stage of his development.

Page is viewed as being one of Leicester City’s brightest talents. He turned down an initial contract offer from the club in July 2025, before ultimately signing professional terms two months later, and was named Academy Player of the Season for the 2024-25 campaign. He was also named EFL Apprentice of the Year last season and picked up Leicester’s Development Squad Player of the Season award following his breakthrough into the first team.

Making his senior debut for Leicester at just 17 in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield Town in August 2025, Page has gone on to appear 21 times in the first-team, including five starts last season as the Foxes were relegated from the Championship. His most recent outing came in Saturday’s Carabao Cup win over Northampton.

He has also made a name for himself on the international stage, captaining England’s under-18s in June this year, and has since made his debut for England’s under-20s. His rise had already caught wider attention before that, having been included in the Guardian’s Next Generation 2024 list of the best young talents at Premier League clubs.

Should the move go through, Page would become the latest highly-rated academy graduate to leave Leicester this summer, following forward Jeremy Monga’s departure for Manchester City. United’s pursuit fits a wider pattern under INEOS of identifying and securing elite emerging talent before their valuations render them unattainable, in the mould of Ayden Heaven’s arrival from Arsenal in February 2025 and, more recently, Tynan Thompson’s move from Tottenham.

In Tielemans and Santos, INEOS have added a pair of midfielders whose primary qualities shine through on the ball, with both possessing fantastic technical and mental qualities, though neither are associated with otherworldly athleticism or ground coverage out of possession. Despite negating that for the most part with their intelligent positioning and reading of the game, it’s widely felt that a third summer midfield recruit should bring stronger physical qualities to shore up Michael Carrick’s midfield unit.

Tall and athletic, Page presents as just that desired profile, likely appreciated by United’s recruitment officials for his physical qualities and perceived readiness for Premier League football, despite relative inexperience compared with other targets. A box-to-box midfielder and an impressive carrier of the ball, he prefers to dribble through defensive lines with his passing range an area for improvement, though not an abject weakness. His experience of senior Championship football, however limited, already sets him apart from many academy-level prospects at his age.

Less important but still worth noting, Page’s left-footedness would bring some quietly needed balance to United’s existing midfield options, all of whom are right-footed. It’s unclear whether his arrival would curtail any further plans to bring in another senior midfielder option, but as was true in Heaven’s case, Page could expect to play first-team minutes not too long after his arrival, should a deal go through.

A fee must still be agreed to bring Page to Old Trafford, with Leicester reluctant to sanction the departure of yet another of their most talented prospects, but United are understood to be optimistic about completing his signing before the summer transfer window closes.