Jacob Devaney Addresses Manchester United Future After St Mirren Loan Success

Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney has expressed his ambition to secure a place in the United first-team squad for the 2026/27 season following a productive loan spell with St Mirren. The 18-year-old, who has become a mainstay in the St Mirren midfield, has indicated his intent to push for a permanent role in the midfield engine room upon his return to Old Trafford.

Devaney joined the Scottish Premiership side during the closing stages of the January transfer window to gain senior first-team experience. Since arriving in February, he has established himself as a regular starter, making 13 starts for the Paisley-based club. His contributions include a goal scored during the Scottish FA Cup.

The midfielder’s transition to senior football has been marked by a high level of trust from the coaching staff. He was initially integrated into the side by former manager Stephen Robinson and has continued to be a primary selection under interim manager Craig McLeish.

Despite his youth, Devaney has been entrusted with significant responsibilities in the midfield. This trust follows a successful period at Manchester United, where he captained the Under-21 side in the first half of the campaign and led the club in Premier League 2.

The move to Scotland was a decision driven largely by Devaney’s own preferences. According to reporting from BBC Sport, the Barnsley-born Republic of Ireland international went against club wishes to accept the opportunity to join St Mirren.

Devaney detailed the circumstances of the move, noting that the opportunity arrived late in the transfer window. He revealed that while Manchester United had other options lined up for him, he felt the Scottish league was the right environment for his development.

St Mirren came about really late. There had been conversations with Travis [Binnion, who was in charge of United’s youth teams] and Stephen Torpey, the head of academy, who said I’d had a really positive start to the season and thought the next step was to go out on loan. I had somewhere else lined up, which the club wanted me to pursue, but when I heard about St Mirren, it was an opportunity I wanted to take. I’ve grown up having an eye on the Scottish league and I thought it would be a great opportunity.

Jacob Devaney via BBC Sport

While Devaney has flourished individually, St Mirren has faced significant challenges in the Scottish Premiership. The club suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Kilmarnock on May 10, 2026, a result that has complicated their position in the league standings.

Following the loss to Kilmarnock, St Mirren sits four points behind the Ayrshire side. The club faces a critical penultimate fixture of the season on May 12, 2026, in an away match against Aberdeen.

Devaney has acknowledged the precarious position of the club and stated that his immediate priority is to help St Mirren avoid relegation.

At the minute, my main focus is on these remaining games and keeping St Mirren in the league, where they should be.

Jacob Devaney via The Peoples Person

The experience has provided a stark contrast for Devaney, who has seen some of his former Manchester United Under-21 teammates struggle to find consistent playing time during their own loan spells. By securing 13 starts in a competitive league, Devaney has positioned himself as a viable candidate for a step up in the United hierarchy.

As the 2025/26 season concludes, Devaney’s focus will shift back to Manchester, where he intends to use the momentum from his time in Scotland to challenge for a midfield role in the 2026/27 campaign.