Former Man Utd graduate signs for Perth Glory as a free agent

Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Lawrence has completed a move to A-League side Perth Glory.

After spending 12 years at Manchester United, graduating from the academy and making his debut under Ryan Giggs, Tom Lawrence has enjoyed spells at many clubs.

Lawrence signed for Leicester City when he left Old Trafford in 2014. That move led to him joining Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Ipswich Town on loan.

In 2017, Lawrence joined Derby County, where he spent five years before enjoying a stint in Scotland with Rangers.

Following the expiry of Lawrence’s contract at Rangers, the 31-year-old has been without a club for five months up until now.

Tom Lawrence signs for Perth Glory

Born in Wrexham, Lawrence was heavily linked with a move to his hometown club in the summer.

Lawrence was also linked with moves to fellow Championship clubs Burnley, Coventry City, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers. No deals to these clubs materialised, which created doubt over Lawrence’s future.

After graduating from United’s academy in May 2014, Lawrence made just one appearance for United’s first team.

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After months of waiting for a new club, Lawrence has finally signed for Australian A-League side Perth Glory.

Lawrence will join another former United academy player, Scott Wootton, at Perth Glory, which will help him settle into his new surroundings. He has already explained how a chat with Wootton led to his decision.

“I had a call with [Glory football director] Stan Lazaridis and the manager [David Zdrillic] and just listened to their passion for the club and where they want to go,” Lawrence told Perth Glory’s official website.

“That’s really what settled it in the end.

“I also spoke with Scott Wootton and he was very complimentary about the club and Perth as a city. He basically said, ‘Just get here as soon as you can, you’ll love it’.

“I’ve been training every day with a guy back home in the UK and I feel like I’m in good shape. My body feels good, so I don’t think it’ll take long at all and I’ll be raring to go.”

He added: “I’ve come here to score as many goals and contribute as many assists to help the team as I can. I want the team to finish as high as possible and go for whatever we can this season.”

Tom Lawrence on Man Utd influences

After spending so long at United, Lawrence has taken lots of influence from the legends he worked with at Carrington.

Lawrence has earned 23 caps for the Wales national team, having learned from Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes and Giggs.

In an interview with The Sun last year, Lawrence said: “The number of figures that helped me out along the way, I couldn’t name them all. What I will say is that you looked up to those who were in the first team at the time, the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

“Coaching-wise Paul McGuinness and Warren Joyce helped me massively. I am really thankful to them all. There were role models everywhere. It was just all about standards, it makes you have those standards from such a young age.

“Sir Alex Ferguson was one for big standards and you couldn’t mess up. That grounding never leaves you. When you grow up hearing that you just get used to doing the same high level standard stuff every day. It’s instilled in you.”

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