Nick Cox, the academy director at Manchester United, is set to leave his position and take on the role of technical director at Everton. This move comes as Everton undergoes a restructuring phase following the Friedkin Group's takeover last December. Cox's departure marks the end of a nine-year tenure at Manchester United, where he has been a prominent figure in youth development.

Cox joined Manchester United in May 2016 from Sheffield United, initially serving as Academy Operations Manager alongside Nicky Butt. He was promoted to Head of Academy three years later and then to Academy Director in October 2022. Since becoming Academy Director, 29 academy players have made their first-team debuts for United, with homegrown players accounting for 25% of the club's total first-team minutes. Additionally, the club has generated approximately £100 million from sales of academy players in the last three seasons. Manchester United topped Training Ground Guru's (TGG) Academy Productivity Rankings for three consecutive seasons – 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2020/21 – after Cox joined.

During his time at Manchester United, Cox played a key role in overhauling the club's youth system. Under his guidance, United won the FA Youth Cup in 2022, with players like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo emerging as stars. He convinced Garnacho and his family to relocate from Madrid to Manchester at the age of 16 in 2020. Ethan Wheatley also became United's 250th academy graduate.

Everton directly headhunted Cox to contribute to their revamped setup, as part of a broader effort to build a new football leadership team. Angus Kinnear was appointed as the club's new chief executive last month. Cox will remain at United for the coming months to support a smooth transition, with a succession plan already underway.

Cox's departure follows a period of significant changes within Manchester United's senior football staff. Recently, Head of Performance Analysis Paul Brand, Director of Insights and Innovation Richard Hawkins, Director of Football Operations David Harrison, and Director of Scouting Steve Brown have all left the club. Jason Wilcox has been promoted from Technical Director to Director of Football, taking overall charge of football operations.

Cox had reportedly turned down various technical director and sporting director roles in the past, demonstrating his commitment to Manchester United's academy before ultimately accepting the opportunity at Everton.