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Yesterday marked 11 years since Luke Shaw signed for Manchester United from Southampton as an 18 year old.
At the time, the move seemed to be everything that United used to do well. Signing the best up and coming talent in the country from a Premier League rival, after he excelled at Southampton.
The transfer fee of £27 million made him the most expensive teenager in football history in the summer of 2014, highlighting just how much the club believed in his potential.
1️⃣1️⃣ years since we signed @LukeShaw23 ❤️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 27, 2025
Shaw was incredibly highly rated and he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award and named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2013-2014 season.
Sadly, the defender’s career has not panned out in anything like the way most people thought 11 years ago.
His career has been dogged by consistent injury problems which have barely seen him play over the last two seasons. The key turning point was probably his horrific leg break against PSV Eindhoven in 2015 where he almost lost his leg.
It is unfair to suggest that there have been zero highs. Shaw was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2021 and scored in the final of Euro 2020 (played in 2021) for England.
At his best, he was electric down United’s left hand side, providing great crossing ability and solid defensive contributions. He particularly linked up well with Marcus Rashford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management.
Nonetheless, despite flickers of promise, there should be no place for Shaw in United’s future. Here are three reasons why.
Sheer number of games missed
Shaw is the longest-serving player in the squad but he has only been able to play more than 20 games a season in five of his 11 years at Old Trafford.
It looked like his injury worries were finally behind him when he played 47 matches in 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 but the last two seasons have seen him barely feature.
He has only played a total of 27 games since the summer of 2023 and a lot of these appearances have been from the bench.
Despite his longevity, players who joined the club much later have actually played more times for the club.
Shaw has only played 287 times for the club while Bruno Fernandes, who joined in 2020, has incredibly played 290 times.
Harry Maguire is currently on 246 appearances for the club and will almost certainly overtake Shaw, despite joining five years later.
Moreover, with Shaw turning 30 this July, it is hard to see his injury problems ever getting any better.
No need for him in squad
What’s more, United have recently strengthened in his position over the last two years.
Playing in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, there is no place for a traditional left back and it seems clear that Shaw does not have the motor to play as a modern left wing back.
The club have also recently bought Patrick Dorgu and are bringing in Diego Leon this summer. Moreover, youth product Harry Amass also featured regularly in the squad in the final months of the season.
There has been an argument that Shaw could feature at left centre back in a back three and there is logic to this idea.
Nonetheless, with Leny Yoro excelling in this position and Lisandro Martinez likely to challenge him when he recovers from injury, Shaw would arguably be third choice even in this position.
As such, it seems nonsensical to keep a fourth choice left wing back and third choice centre back around, especially on weekly wages of £150,000.
Europa League final last nail in coffin
Finally, Shaw was given a chance to prove himself under Amorim at the end of last season and looked totally lost.
He was given the ultimate chance in the final of the Europa League but was all at sea for Spurs’ winning goal and was a shadow of his former self throughout.
He was poor on the ball and looked sluggish off it.
There is an argument that he needs time to get back into the swing of things but there is just no convincing argument that he will ever return to anything like the player he once was. Even if he does, how long until he picks up yet another serious injury?
Therefore, in a summer where every sale counts, United must rid themselves of the England international. The biggest question though is, who could they convince to take the gamble?
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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