Man United Under-23 captain explains why he has left

Matt Stead

Manchester United defender Joe Riley has joined Sky Bet League One side Bradford on a two-year contract.

The 21-year-old right-back, who captained United’s under-23s last season, made two first-team appearances for the Premier League club.

“Manchester United has been my home, my family for the last 15 years,” Riley told United’s official website. “It is every boy’s dream to play for this club and I can proudly say I have achieved this.

“I have so many unforgettable memories and experiences that I’ll forever be grateful for, but I personally feel now is the right time for me to move on and to start the next chapter of my career.”

Riley’s two first-team appearances for United were against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup and Midtjylland in the Europa League during the 2015/16 season under former manager Louis van Gaal.

He spent time on loan at Sheffield United in 2017, but his time at Bramall Lane was cut short by a serious shoulder injury.