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Man United hand 'tremendously gifted' Aliou Traore, 17, professional deal

Manchester United have handed teenage midfielder Aliou Traore his first professional contract.

The France U17 international, who turned 17 on Monday, has been training with the academy since the summer but only officially joined the club last month.

Traore, who has spent time with Paris Saint-Germain, joins Angel Gomes in signing professional terms.

Gomes, who made his U23s debut as a second-half substitute against West Ham at Leigh on Monday night, put pen to paper last month.

Academy chief Nicky Butt told the club's official website: "Aliou is a tremendously gifted young player and we are all delighted to see him sign his first professional contract at Manchester United.

"Aliou will naturally need time to adapt, but he has an exciting future ahead of him and we are all looking forward to seeing his performances for the Under-18s in the second half of this season."

Traore has already played for Kieran McKenna's U18s this season, making his debut in a Premier League Cup defeat to Wolves in December.

McKenna told MUTV: "He is a really powerful midfielder who likes to run box to box. He is very strong technically and is improving all the time.

"He's a nice man and his English is improving. He's settling in well with the boys and has taken to the club really well."