Stockport County just picked up a young midfielder who spent the last five years climbing the ranks at Manchester United. James Bailey, 18, signed a two-year deal after United let him go earlier this month alongside Sonny Aljofree and Malachi Sharpe.
Bailey first joined United in 2021 from Burnley. He was 15. That same season he debuted for the Under-18s. Four years later he made his Under-21s bow. That kind of timeline usually means the club thought highly of him.
In the 2025/26 season he played 13 games in the U18 Premier League and scored once against Wolverhampton in September. Not eye-popping numbers but Stockport sees something they like.
Why Stockport Moved Fast
Academy director Mike Jeffries said Bailey earned this chance through attitude and work. He called signing a first pro deal a milestone but added it’s just the start. “He has shown a fantastic attitude, a strong commitment to his development, and a willingness to learn every day,” Jeffries said.
Stockport’s head of emerging talent Vinil Joseph confirmed they had tracked Bailey for a while. He described him as a tenacious midfielder with technical quality and specifically mentioned his left foot. “We believe he possesses attributes required to thrive in a senior environment,” Joseph said.
This isn’t a blockbuster signing. It’s a flyer on a kid who didn’t make the cut at one of the biggest clubs in the world. But that doesn’t mean he can’t carve out a career. Stockport has built a reputation for developing young players and giving them minutes. For Bailey that might matter more than a flashy name on the roster.
What Comes Next
Bailey will start with Stockport’s academy and work toward first-team opportunities. The club did not specify when they expect him to debut at senior level but the two-year deal suggests they see him as a long-term project.
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