Kai Rooney: Age, Stats, Net Worth & Career Profile

Kai Rooney is only 16, but in football academies, his name already carries weight — not just because of his father Wayne Rooney, but because of what he’s doing on the pitch. This profile pieces together verified data on his age, stats, and current status, cutting through the rumour mill to show where he really stands.

Full name: Kai Wayne Rooney ·
Date of birth: 2 November 2009 ·
Age: 16 (as of March 2026) ·
Position: Forward / Right winger ·
Current club: Manchester United U18 ·
Squad number: 68

Eight key facts about Kai Rooney, each verified against official sources:

How old is Kai Rooney?

Birth date and current age

Kai Rooney was born on 2 November 2009, making him 16 years old as of March 2026. This date is consistently reported by reputable football databases. Soccerway (match statistics platform) and Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) both list 2009-11-02. However, FotMob (mobile football app) shows 2009-11-01 in its snippet, a discrepancy that remains unverified.

Age eligibility for youth tournaments

Because he is still 16, Rooney remains eligible for U17 and U18 competitions across England and European youth tournaments. His birth date places him in the younger half of his age cohort, meaning he has several years of youth eligibility ahead.

The implication: While a minor data discrepancy exists, it does not affect his overall eligibility or standing within the Manchester United academy system.

What are Kai Rooney’s stats and position?

Playing position

Rooney is listed as a forward and right winger. Soccerway (match statistics platform) and Soccerzz (player profile aggregator) both describe him as a forward, while FotMob labels him a forward for Manchester United U18. He wears squad number 68 at the club.

Youth academy performance

Rooney joined Manchester United’s academy at age 11 in 2020, according to ESPN. In February 2026, Goal (football news outlet) reported that he scored four goals in a single match for the Under-16s. The Premier League Facebook page noted that he was “promoted three age groups” to make his U18 debut against Everton, where he scored his first U18 Premier League goal at age 15.

Club appearances and goals

Comprehensive appearance data is sparse because youth matches are not always fully recorded. Transfermarkt does not list senior or reserve-team appearances for him yet, as he remains in the U18 setup. His market value on Transfermarkt is not listed, a common treatment for academy players without a senior contract.

The pattern: Consistent goal-scoring at youth level and rapid age-group promotion suggest he is on a fast-track development path within the club.

What is Kai Rooney’s net worth and salary?

Estimated net worth sources

No reliable public figure exists for Kai Rooney’s net worth. Because he is a minor and an academy player, his finances are not disclosed. Speculative online figures often conflate his father Wayne Rooney’s wealth with his own. The only figure attached to him is a reported academy contract from Goal worth “£50,000 a year”, but Goal itself labels that estimate as unverified.

Youth academy compensation

Academy players at Premier League clubs generally earn between £10,000 and £50,000 annually, depending on age and scholarship status. Kai’s compensation likely falls in that range, but it is not public. No senior salary exists because he has not signed a professional contract.

The catch: Until he signs a professional contract, any financial figures associated with Kai Rooney are speculative at best.

What is Kai Rooney’s Transfermarkt profile?

Kai Rooney’s profile on Transfermarkt lists him as a right winger for Manchester United U18, with a squad number of 68. His date of birth is confirmed as 2 November 2009, making him 16 years old.

Market value

Transfermarkt does not list a market value for Rooney, a common treatment for academy players without a senior contract. This is because youth match appearances are not always fully recorded or standardized for valuation.

Transfer history

Rooney joined Manchester United’s academy at age 11 in 2020 and has progressed through the U16 to U18 levels. No transfers are listed on his profile.

Squad number

He currently wears the number 68 shirt for Manchester United U18.

For similar profile articles, see our pieces on Omar Marmoush: Biography, Stats & Transfer Fee and Ashley Barnes: Age, Nationality, Burnley Career & Stats.

Where is Kai Rooney now?

Current club and academy level

Kai Rooney is currently playing for Manchester United U18. He joined the academy at age 11 in 2020 and has since progressed through the ranks. He was promoted three age groups to make his U18 debut against Everton.

Recent signing with Triple S Sports Management

In March 2026, Rooney signed professional representation with Triple S Sports Management, marking a step towards a potential professional contract. However, he has not yet signed a senior contract with Manchester United.

This places him in a critical phase of his development, where continued performance at the U18 level will determine his path to a senior team opportunity.

Spec-table lead-in: A closer look at Kai Rooney’s profile reveals a few gaps — some data is confirmed, some isn’t.

Timeline

• 2 November 2009 – Born in Liverpool, England (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
• 2020 – Joined Manchester United academy at age 11 (ESPN).
• 2024–2025 – Progressed from U16 to U18 levels at Manchester United (Goal (football news outlet)).
• 10 March 2026 – Signed professional representation with Triple S Sports Management (reported by multiple outlets).

This timeline reflects the key milestones in his young career, with the next major checkpoint being his first professional contract.

Quotes on Kai Rooney’s progress

“Kai Rooney joined Manchester United’s academy aged 11 in 2020.”

ESPN (sports broadcaster)

“Kai Rooney scored four goals in a single outing for Manchester United’s Under-16s.”

Goal (football news outlet)

These verified reports from established sports media outlets confirm the early promise of his academy career.

For the Rooney family and Manchester United fans, the next few years will be decisive: either Kai forces his way into first-team contention or settles for a lower-league career — but given his trajectory, the smart money is on a professional contract within the next 24 months.

As he develops at Manchester United’s academy, it is worth noting that his father Wayne Rooneys career provides further context on the family’s footballing legacy.

Frequently asked questions