15-05-2025
Man Utd's 'best youngster' sends new team to Wembley after quitting Red Devils
Ethan Galbraith was once tipped for big things at Manchester United, with the Northern Irishman being hailed as the club's "best young player" outside the first team a few years back
A former Manchester United prospect, once hailed as the club's "best young player", turned hero for Leyton Orient as they punched their ticket to Wembley. Ethan Galbraith, who spent six years in United's ranks, netted the match-winning penalty in a tense shootout win over Stockport County on Wednesday night.
The victory secured Orient's spot in the League One Play-Off final, and leaves them within touching distance of a return to the second tier of English football for the first time in 43 years.
Galbraith has been a key figure throughout their promotion charge, regularly featuring in the starting XI and chipping in with crucial goals – including a brace against Stockport earlier this season.
His influence won't come as a shock to those familiar with United's youth system. The 24-year-old Northern Irishman had once been seen as a serious candidate to break into the Red Devils' senior squad.
Having arrived from Linfield in 2017, it didn't take long for Galbraith to make an impression. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him his first-team debut against Astana during the 2019/20 Europa League, having already been impressed with his performances for the U21s and in senior training sessions.
A source told MEN in August 2020: "He's the best young player outside the core first-team group at the club." However, Galbraith struggled to consistently deliver at the top level.
After a friendly against Aston Villa in September, Solskjaer was openly critical of his play, frustrated with how often he lost possession. "Galbraith... I spoke to him after the game and he knows a couple of times he gets caught on the ball but that's the learning he needs," the Norwegian coach said. "That's going to make him, next time he's on the pitch, be ready for it."
The midfielder was then loaned to Doncaster Rovers in League One for the 2021/22 season, followed by a spell at Salford City in League Two. Though he impressed in both stints, he hadn't quite progressed at the speed United had envisioned.
Galbraith's chapter at the club came to a close in 2023, with new United boss Erik ten Hag showing little interest in him. With his deal expiring and no offer to extend it, Galbraith accepted defeat and looked elsewhere.
"After six years, my time has come to an end with this magnificent club, Manchester United," he wrote on social media at the time. "My earliest ambition as a boy was to become a professional footballer and I'm forever grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity and support to fulfil that dream.
"It's been a privilege and I feel very honoured to have been able to represent the club. I step into the next chapter of my career a more mature, well rounded person and I'm excited for what's next."
That next step was a gamble. Though there was interest from clubs like Newcastle, Stoke, and Derby, Galbraith chose to sign with newly promoted League One outfit Leyton Orient, seeking regular minutes on the pitch.
He quickly adapted to life in east London, playing a major part in helping Orient to their best league finish in over ten years during his debut campaign. Year two has gone even better, with Richie Wellens' men launching a late-season surge to secure a surprise spot in the play-offs.
In the return leg against Stockport, Galbraith didn't just convert the decisive penalty - he also set up Ollie O'Neill's opener, delivering a complete performance that saw him named Player of the Match.
With a Wembley showdown on the horizon and the chance to earn promotion, Galbraith now has an opportunity to demonstrate - both to those watching and perhaps those back at Carrington - that he was right to back himself.
If he leads Orient to victory, it may not only be a landmark moment for the club but also a personal comeback story for a footballer still striving for the heights he once seemed destined to reach.
