Axel Tuanzebe

Axel Tuanzebe (born 14 November 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or full-back for English club Manchester United.

Club career
Born in Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the teenager has dual British nationality and has been nurtured by the club's Academy since the age of eight after growing up in Rochdale.

A Milk Cup winner in 2013 and 2014, he was awarded Sports Boy of the Year by Mayor of Rochdale Keith Swift in 2009 and has been making good progress ever since.

"He's a very, very good player," said Academy adviser Les Kershaw. "And is one of them that I really like because he has a strong personality."

Tuanzebe is an imposing figure who is comfortable in possession despite his obvious brawn and the 2015 winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. He started 28 matches and came off the bench once during a good campaign for Paul McGuinness' side and, remarkably, is still eligible for another year of Academy football.

He certainly enjoys the responsibility of being captain - "I like bossing people around!" - and has pushed into the Under-21s ahead of schedule after making three substitute appearances for Warren Joyce's side last season.

Tuanzebe made the substitutes' bench for the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on 31 October at the tender age of 17.