Highly rated Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Winsley Boteli rejects Manchester United to stay at Borussia Park

Borussia Mönchengladbach have announced that highly-rated youth striker Winsley Boteli has signed a professional contract at the club.

Fabrizio Romano reports that the new contract is valid until 2028, Boteli turns 18 today meaning he was eligible to sign a professional contract. Other reports indicate that Boteli has rejected interest from Manchester United, Everton and Juventus to stay at Borussia Park. 

Last season, Boteli scored 21 goals and four assists in 23 U19 games and even featured for Borussia Mönchengladbach II in the Regionalliga West where he scored four goals in just 314 minutes. The Swiss is now set to be permanently promoted to the under-23 side, and it is not entirely impossible that he could feature for the senior side at some point this season.

The positive for Gladbach is despite their poor performance last season they have still shown that they can provide a pathway for youth players into the first team. In recent years, Rocco Reitz, Jordan Beyer, Jan Olschowsky and Mortiz Nicolas have all come through the Gladbach academy and played for the senior side.

GGFN | Jack Meenan