# Samuel Lusale
**Samuel Lusale** (Samuel Malama Lusale, born 2007) is a Slovak youth international footballer who plays as a winger for Manchester United's under-21 side. Born in [Guildford](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildford), in Surrey, England, he came through the Crystal Palace Academy before joining Manchester United in September 2024, and he represents Slovakia at youth level despite his English birthplace.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Malama Lusale[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377) |
| Born | 2007, Guildford, England[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377) |
| Position | Right winger; also listed as a forward and attacking midfielder[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377) • [2](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/samuel-lusale) |
| Club | Manchester United U21, signed 19 September 2024 from Crystal Palace Academy[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/samuel-lusale) |
| Nationality | Slovak citizenship; father from Zambia, mother from Slovakia[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377) |
| Youth internationals | Slovakia U17 8 caps, 1 goal; U18 5/1; U19 10/1[3](https://futbalsfz.sk/reprezentacia/hrac/65c3f4e0358909a91f81f1f1/samuel-malama.lusale) |
| Agent | Roc Nation Sports[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377) |
## Early life and youth career
Lusale was born in Guildford, in Surrey, to a Zambian father and a Slovak mother, and holds Slovak citizenship[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377). His early club football came with Guildford Saints FC between 2016 and 2020[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377). He joined the Crystal Palace Academy at 13 years old and spent three seasons there, playing mostly for the club's under-18 side against opponents two years older[4](https://www.efotbal.cz/article/talentovany-slovensky-kridelnik-miri-do-akademie-manchesteru-united-je-jednim-z-nejlepsich-v-anglii-tvrdi-o-nem-e648bc69-4aa2-4ec3-b759-0341fbf31c35).
His form at Palace attracted the sports and entertainment company [Roc Nation Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/roc-nation-sports), which signed him and described him on its website as a quick, dynamic winger regarded as one of the most interesting under-16 players in British academies, comfortable on either the right or left wing and a constant threat to opposing defenses through his pace and direct running[4](https://www.efotbal.cz/article/talentovany-slovensky-kridelnik-miri-do-akademie-manchesteru-united-je-jednim-z-nejlepsich-v-anglii-tvrdi-o-nem-e648bc69-4aa2-4ec3-b759-0341fbf31c35).
## Move to Manchester United
Manchester United agreed a deal with Crystal Palace for the 16-year-old winger in mid-2024, and his registration was completed with the date signed recorded as 19 September 2024[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/samuel-lusale). The club's official profile describes him as a winger who uses great pace to beat his man, and notes that he provided many assists as he settled into the club in his debut season, 2024/25[2](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/samuel-lusale).
In the 2025/26 season his recorded competitive output across competitions was 14 matches, 3 goals, and 1 assist in 887 minutes, including 8 appearances with 2 goals and 1 assist in the U18 Premier League[5](https://footystats.org/players/england/samuel-lusale). His career totals recorded there stand at 40 matches, 4 goals, and 3 assists[5](https://footystats.org/players/england/samuel-lusale).
## International career
Lusale qualifies for Slovakia through his mother and has progressed through the Slovak youth national teams. The Slovak Football Association's player record lists U17: 8 appearances and 1 goal, U18: 5 and 1, and U19: 10 and 1, with the [UEFA European Under-17 Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-european-under-17-championship) 2024 listed among his major tournaments[3](https://futbalsfz.sk/reprezentacia/hrac/65c3f4e0358909a91f81f1f1/samuel-malama.lusale). He was named in Slovakia's squad for that 2024 final tournament, registered as shirt number 7, a forward with Crystal Palace FC[6](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/028d-1af4abfed96c-eaa58104f553-1000/press_kit_u17_2024_23_may_20240523101311.pdf). Transfermarkt credits him with 11 caps and 1 goal for Slovakia U19[1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377).
## Status at Manchester United
Manchester United retained Lusale on the Premier League's 2025/26 retained list, published on 10 June 2026, where he appears under his full name, Lusale, Samuel Malama[7](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4672503/premier-league-clubs-publish-202526-retained-lists). He was subsequently named among the under-21 forwards on the club's Premier League squad list submitted for the 2026/27 season, alongside other academy forwards such as Shea Lacey, Bendito Mantato, and [Chido Obi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chido-obi)[8](https://www.manutd.com.es/en/news/premier-league-squad-confirmed-for-2026-27).
## References
1. [Samuel Lusale – Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-lusale/profil/spieler/1188377)
2. [Samuel Lusale – Men U21s, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com/en/teams/under-21s-team/samuel-lusale)
3. [Samuel Malama Lusale, Slovenský futbalový zväz](https://futbalsfz.sk/reprezentacia/hrac/65c3f4e0358909a91f81f1f1/samuel-malama.lusale)
4. [Talentovaný slovenský křídelník míří do akademie Manchesteru United, eFotbal.cz](https://www.efotbal.cz/article/talentovany-slovensky-kridelnik-miri-do-akademie-manchesteru-united-je-jednim-z-nejlepsich-v-anglii-tvrdi-o-nem-e648bc69-4aa2-4ec3-b759-0341fbf31c35)
5. [Samuel Lusale Stats, FootyStats](https://footystats.org/players/england/samuel-lusale)
6. [UEFA European Under-17 Championship 2024 press kit](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/028d-1af4abfed96c-eaa58104f553-1000/press_kit_u17_2024_23_may_20240523101311.pdf)
7. [Premier League clubs publish 2025/26 retained lists](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4672503/premier-league-clubs-publish-202526-retained-lists)
8. [Premier League squad confirmed for 2026/27, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com.es/en/news/premier-league-squad-confirmed-for-2026-27)
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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)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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