# Jayce Fitzgerald
**Jayce John Fitzgerald** (born 2007) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Rotherham United, on loan from Manchester United, in [EFL League Two](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-league-two).[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald) • [2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) The Salford-born, right-footed player joined Manchester United's youth setup as a child, and several times during [Ruud van Nistelrooy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruud-van-nistelrooy)'s interim management he was named among the first team's substitutes without coming on.[3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Jayce John Fitzgerald, 2007, Salford, England[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald) • [3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) |
| Position | Midfielder (listed as central, defensive, and attacking midfielder by different sources); also capable of operating in defense[4](https://www.transfermarkt.us/jayce-fitzgerald/profil/spieler/964690) • [3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) |
| Current club | Rotherham United, number 15, on a season-long loan from Manchester United agreed in August 2026[5](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/jayce-fitzgerald/1465866) • [2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) |
| 2025/26 academy season | 16 Premier League 2 appearances, 1,388 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist, as Manchester United U21s reached the final[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) • [2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) |
| First-team exposure | Three Manchester United matchday squads in 2024/25, including the Premier League and League Cup benches, without an appearance[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) • [6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) |
| Youth international | Capped by England at under-16 and under-17 level[3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) |
| Physical | 178 cm, prefers his right foot[5](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/jayce-fitzgerald/1465866) |
## Youth career at Manchester United
Fitzgerald joined Manchester United at a young age and progressed through the club's youth set-up, representing the Under-18s before stepping up to the Under-21s.[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) His recorded academy career in Opta's database begins in 2022, with appearances in the MLS Generation Cup at under-15 and under-17 level, followed by three seasons of regular U18 Premier League football: 16 appearances in 2022/23, 12 in 2023/24, and 11 in 2024/25, with 3 goals in each of the first two campaigns.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career)
He won youth silverware with the club, including the under-18 Premier League, the U18 Premier League Cup, and the [FA Youth Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-youth-cup).[3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) In cup competition his most active seasons were 2023/24 and 2024/25, with appearances in the FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League Cup in both.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career)
## First-team involvement at Manchester United
Fitzgerald featured in three first-team matchday squads during the 2024/25 campaign, sitting on the bench in the Premier League and the League Cup without coming on.[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) • [6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) The Yorkshire Post reports that he was an unused substitute on a handful of occasions during Ruud van Nistelrooy's time as interim manager and had been on the bench for United in the top flight and in the Europa League.[3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355)
His senior-adjacent football before the loan included [EFL Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-trophy) and National League Cup matches for United's under-21 side, with 3 EFL Trophy appearances in 2025/26 and 1 in 2024/25.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) In Premier League 2, the top tier of English under-21 football, he was a regular in 2025/26: 16 appearances, 1,388 minutes, 2 goals, and 1 assist, as the side reached the final.[6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) • [2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026)
## Loan to Rotherham United
In August 2026 Fitzgerald agreed a season-long loan to Rotherham United of League Two, completing the move on 31 August as the club's 13th signing of the summer window and its third loan addition, after goalkeeper [Julian Eyestone](https://www.edgepedia.org/julian-eyestone) and wing-back Jill Buyabu.[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026) • [3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) He took the number 15 shirt at [Rotherham](https://www.edgepedia.org/rotherham), and Sofascore lists his parent-club contract as running until 31 May 2027.[5](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/jayce-fitzgerald/1465866)
He arrived at a club in transition: former United youth player [Alex Bruce](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-bruce-footballer-born-1984) had taken charge as head coach that summer, after former United assistant [Steve McClaren](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-mcclaren) joined as the club's head of football in May.[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026)
## Playing style and early professional record
Sources position him differently within midfield: Transfermarkt lists him as a central midfielder, FotMob as an attacking midfielder, and Field Insider's scouting model as a defensive midfielder, while the Yorkshire Post notes he is also capable of operating in defense.[4](https://www.transfermarkt.us/jayce-fitzgerald/profil/spieler/964690) • [7](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1432927/jayce-fitzgerald) • [8](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/jayce-fitzgerald-389031) • [3](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355) Field Insider's model records a defensive output of 4.26 tackles, blocks, and interceptions per 90 minutes in his 2026/27 loan spell, alongside a pass accuracy of 79 percent.[8](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/jayce-fitzgerald-389031)
His early League Two minutes have come mostly from the bench. Across Rotherham's first 10 fixtures of 2026/27 he made 6 league appearances for 190 minutes, starting twice and appearing as a substitute four times, with no goals or assists and one yellow card; he also played a full 90 minutes in the EFL Trophy.[1](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald) • [6](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career) He is represented by the agency SEG.[4](https://www.transfermarkt.us/jayce-fitzgerald/profil/spieler/964690)
## References
1. [Jayce Fitzgerald, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald)
2. [Jayce Fitzgerald joins Rotherham on loan, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/jayce-fitzgerald-joins-rotherham-on-loan-aug-2026)
3. [Rotherham United transfer latest: Manchester United midfielder becomes signing number 13, Yorkshire Post](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rotherham-united-transfer-latest-manchester-united-midfielder-becomes-signing-number-13-8950355)
4. [Jayce Fitzgerald, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/jayce-fitzgerald/profil/spieler/964690)
5. [Jayce Fitzgerald stats and ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/jayce-fitzgerald/1465866)
6. [Jayce Fitzgerald Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/4175/jayce-fitzgerald/career)
7. [Jayce Fitzgerald, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1432927/jayce-fitzgerald)
8. [Jayce Fitzgerald scout report, Field Insider](https://fieldinsider.com/scout-report/jayce-fitzgerald-389031)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › English footballers 2015–present › Central and defensive midfielders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license