Man Utd star agrees new contract despite not playing for three years | Football | Sport

Tom Heaton is set to put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension, stretching his second stint at Manchester United into a sixth season, with the veteran goalkeeper’s presence also helping to satisfy a Champions League squad requirement next season. Heaton celebrated his 40th birthday last month and, despite not having featured competitively for United since February 2023, he continues to maintain impressive fitness levels and consistently sets the benchmark in training.

The former England international is equally well regarded in the dressing room for his leadership qualities, and has taken 23-year-old goalkeeper Senne Lammens under his wing this season, guiding the Belgian through his maiden Premier League campaign. With second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir expected to depart Old Trafford this summer and Andre Onana on the transfer list following his loan spell at Trabzonspor, Heaton will offer much-needed continuity as the squad’s third-choice stopper.

Having come through United’s youth system before leaving the club in 2010, having not made a first-team appearance, Heaton also qualifies as a homegrown player and will help to fill that quota in the club’s 25-man squad on their return to the Champions League next season.

UEFA rules dictate that every squad must have at least eight ‘association-trained’ players in the 25-man list, of which at least four must be ‘club-trained’. To qualify, a player must have spent three continuous seasons at that club between the ages of 15 and 21.

Within United’s current squad, only Heaton, Luke Shaw and potentially Amad qualify as club-trained, with Kobbie Mainoo eligible to be registered on List B under UEFA’s squad regulations as a player born on or after January 1, 2005, for the 2026/27 season, having spent more than two years at the club.

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Amad has been classified as homegrown by the Premier League this season and should meet UEFA’s criteria. Only Harry Maguire and Mason Mount would be considered association-trained.

United occupied the four Europa League spots last season, with Heaton, goalkeeper Dermot Mee, retired centre-back Jonny Evans and forward Marcus Rashford. Mee remains at Old Trafford and could feature again next season, though Evans has since moved into a coaching role and Rashford looks set to depart this summer.

Loanee midfielder Toby Collyer would count as homegrown, but the 22-year-old could be sent out on loan once more. Goalkeeper Radek Vitek would also be eligible, while Mee could again serve as a fourth-choice stopper.

Vitek, 22, has enjoyed an impressive season on loan at Bristol City in the Championship but is eager for regular first-team football. With Bayindir expected to leave this summer in search of regular playing time, United may attempt to convince Vitek to serve as understudy to Lammens.

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United could name fewer than the required eight homegrown players, though this would limit the size of the squad they are permitted to submit. Should they include just six players rather than eight, the squad would be capped at 23 rather than 25.

While Heaton would alleviate some worries regarding UEFA’s squad regulations, his contribution behind the scenes is also deemed priceless at Old Trafford. He serves as a confidant for captain Bruno Fernandes, and Casemiro lauded his impact last week.

“The first thing is that he pushes the training,” Casemiro told the Rio Ferdinand Meets podcast. “He pushes the training every time. He pushes the game, before the game. Of course, he doesn’t play, but he pushes every time.

“And he explains his experience. He explains, because he speaks English very well. But for me, every room needs one Tom. Every room needs this guy because he helps the room [so] much.”