Shola Shoretire

Shola Shoretire

Shoretire with Manchester United in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Shola Maxwell Shoretire [1]
Date of birth	(2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) [2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	PAOK
Number	47
Youth career
	Whitley Bay Boys Club
	Newcastle City Juniors
	Wallsend Boys Club
	Hebburn & Cramlington Juniors
	Newcastle United
	Sunderland
2011–2012	Manchester City
2013–2021	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	Manchester United	3	(0)
2023	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	16	(1)
2024–	PAOK	11	(1)
International career
2019	England U15	1	(0)
2019	England U16	2	(0)
2021	England U18	1	(0)
2021	England U19	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:12, 25 January 2025 (UTC)

Shola Maxwell Shoretire (born 2 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Super League Greece club PAOK.

Shoretire was a part of Manchester United's youth system from a young age and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in the 2020–21 season. He signed his first professional contract in February 2021, at the age of 17, and made his first-team debut later that month in a Premier League game against Newcastle United. He holds the record as the youngest player to represent Manchester United in European competition.

Shoretire has played youth international football for England at under-15, under-16, under-18, and under-19 levels. He is also eligible to represent Nigeria at international level.

Club career

Early career

As a child, Shoretire played with Whitley Bay Boys Club, Newcastle City Juniors, Wallsend Boys Club, Hebburn Town and Cramlington Juniors. ^[3] He was also briefly part of Manchester City's youth setup, but left to join rivals Manchester United at the age of nine. ^{[3] [4]}

Manchester United

Shoretire quickly rose through the youth ranks of the Red Devils, frequently playing a year up his own age. In December 2018, he became the youngest ever player to appear in the UEFA Youth League at the age of 14 years and 314 days. ^[5] In 2020, after impressing with the under-18s, Neil Wood, coach of the under-23s, handed him his under-23s debut when he was just 16. He scored a hat-trick in a 6–4 win for the under-23s against Blackburn Rovers in February 2021.

Shoretire signed his first professional contract with Manchester United on 8 February 2021, a week after turning 17. ^[4] On 21 February 2021, he made his first-team debut for United as an 88th-minute substitute for Marcus Rashford in a 3–1 home league win over Newcastle United. ^[6] Four days later, he became United's youngest player to make an appearance in a European competition, coming on as a substitute for Mason Greenwood in a 0–0 home draw against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League at the age of 17 years and 23 days, beating the record set by Norman Whiteside 38 years earlier by 108 days. ^[7] For his performances with the youth teams, Shoretire was named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year for 2020–21. ^[8]

Loan to Bolton

On 19 January 2023, Shoretire officially joined EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers on loan until the end of the season. ^{[9] [10]} He was cup-tied as Bolton went on to win the 2022–23 EFL Trophy. ^[11] On 8 May 2023, he scored his first league goal in senior football, scoring the first goal in a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers. ^[12]

On 5 June 2024, United confirmed they were in talks with Shoretire about a new contract. ^[13]

PAOK

On 30 July 2024, Shoretire signed with the Super League Greece club PAOK on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Manchester United. ^[14]

International career

As Shoretire was born in England to a Nigerian father and English mother, he is eligible to represent both nations at international level. ^[15]

He made one appearance for the England under-15 team, in a friendly against Belgium in February 2019. ^[16] He made two appearances for the England under-16 team in August 2019, against Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. ^{[17] [18]} On 29 March 2021, Shoretire made his debut and only appearance for the England under-18 team during a 2–0 away victory over Wales at the Leckwith Stadium in Cardiff. ^{[16] [19]}

On 2 September 2021, Shoretire made his debut for England at under-19 level during a 2–0 victory over Italy at St. George's Park. ^[20] He made four appearances for the under-19 team. ^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 January 2025 ^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester United U21	2020–21 [21]	—	—		—		—		—		2 [b]	0	2	0
	2021–22 [22]	—	—		—		—		—		2 [b]	0	2	0
	2022–23 [23]	—	—		—		—		—		3 [b]	1	3	1
	2023–24 [24]	—	—		—		—		—		3 [b]	2	3	2
	Total		—		—		—		—		10	3	10	3
Manchester United	2020–21 [21]	Premier League	2	0	0	0	0	0	1 [c]	0	—		3	0
	2021–22 [22]	Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	1 [d]	0	—		2	0
	2022–23 [23]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	—		5	0
Bolton Wanderers (loan)	2022–23 [23]	EFL League One	16	1	—		—		—		0	0	16	1
PAOK	2024–25 [25]	Super League Greece	11	1	3	2	—		5 [c]	0	—		19	3
Career total			30	2	3	2	0	0	7	0	10	3	50	7

1. Includes Greek Football Cup
2. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearance in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Manchester United

• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2020–21 ^[26]

Individual

• Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2020–21

References

1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
2. "Shola Shoretire Profile, News & Stats". premierleague.com. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
3. Mitten, Andy. "Shola Shoretire: The record-breaking Manchester United 'craftsman' being watched closely by Solskjaer". The Athletic. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
4. "Shola Shoretire signs first professional contract". ManUtd.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
5. "Manchester United: Shola Shoretire becomes youngest Uefa Youth League player". BBC Sport. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
6. Magowan, Alistair (21 February 2021). "Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United: Marcus Rashford plays key role in home win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
7. Stone, Simon (25 February 2021). "Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad (Agg 4-0): Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side advance in Europa League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
8. "Shoretire wins Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year". ManUtd.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
9. Marshall, Adam (19 January 2023). "Shoretire seals loan switch". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
10. Oliver, Pete (19 January 2023). "Wanderers Secure Shola Signing". BWFC.co.uk. Bolton Wanderers. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
11. "Evatt: Football Always Gives You Opportunities". bwfc.co.uk. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
12. "Bristol Rovers 2-3 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
13. "United announce official retained list". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
14. "Shola Shoretire joins PAOK". PAOK. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
15. "Father of Man United's Shola Shoretire wants son in Super Eagles". guardian.ng. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
16. "S. Shoretire". besoccer.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
17. Shola Shoretire at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
18. "Ireland U16: Six goals as Ireland draw with England". Football Association of Ireland. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
19. "TWO SECOND-HALF GOALS SEAL WIN FOR ENGLAND MEN'S UNDER-18S OVER WALES IN CARDIFF". TheFA.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
20. "England MU19s 2-0 Italy". EnglandFootball.com. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
21. "Games played by Shola Shoretire in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
22. "Games played by Shola Shoretire in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
23. "Games played by Shola Shoretire in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
24. "Games played by Shola Shoretire in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
25. "Shola Shoretire Club Matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
26. Stone, Simon (26 May 2021). "Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United (11-10 on pens): David de Gea spot kick saved in epic Europa League final shootout". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2021.

External links

• Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
• Shola Shoretire – UEFA competition record ( archive )