It was a transfer like no other at the time.

Manchester United once signed a nine-year-old footballer off the back of seeing his compilation video - but what has happened to the player now?

Nowadays, the Internet is flooded with stories of young academy prospects who are tipped to become the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, while any spectacular moment at amateur levels will quickly go viral.

Back in 2007, though, things were slightly different. YouTube had only been founded two years earlier in the United States, while you might struggle to find many people who knew what Twitter was. The closest you got to TikTok was waiting another two years for Kesha to release her hit song.

The best way to get a top club to notice you was either by chance - an encounter at a local game, for instance - or by sending a DVD directly to the club in the hope that they would see it.

While some managers might not always get back to young players, there are plenty of stories of Sir Alex Ferguson doing exactly the opposite.

An 18-year-old, newly released by Macclesfield, once delivered his own compilation DVD directly to Ferguson's home address in Wilmslow - with the United boss promising to watch it.

The Scot did just that, and subsequently invited the player for a trial.

In the case of Davis, his grandad sent over a DVD of the nine-year-old playing football in Brisbane, Australia, where his family was living at the time.

United scouts watched the videos, invited him to participate in several training sessions and then offered him a contract.

Davis would play in the same age group as Marcus Rashford, telling The Athletic in 2023 that the future United and England star was 'the standout and always has been'.

The midfielder continued to work his way up through the youth ranks, but then suffered a broken leg when he was 14 years old.

Davis described the injury as a 'turning point' as far as United's subsequent decision not to give him a scholarship contract at 15, but also added: "It was all up in the air, and what is to say I would get one? I probably wasn't going to. But it didn't help the process and it didn't help me going on to look elsewhere."

After working his way back to full fitness, Davis decided to focus on his education and went to university, where he studied business and economics in Sheffield.

Although he now works full-time in finance, the midfielder - who is now 26 - has remained in football, and is still based in Lancashire.

After a spell with Altrincham, Davis has most recently been playing his club football for Manchester-based West Didsbury & Chorlton, who play in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

The club has been home to a number of high-profile players over recent years, including current Bolton winger Carlos Mendes Gomes and Gibraltar international Jack Sargeant.

Last week, he signed for divisional rivals Cheadle Town, who finished a position above the midfielder's former club last season.

Twitter

On his current life, Davis told The Athletic: "Things didn't turn out how I wished for at United, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

"People still make tongue-in-cheek comments [about the YouTube video] in passing, but nothing like they used to!

"One kid used to call me wonderkid... it is all fun and games."

Selena Gomez wrapped up 2023 on a special date with her boyfriend, Benny Blanco

Gomez, 31, shared a snapshot from their outing via her Instagram Story on Saturday, December 30. Wearing a fuzzy black coat, Gomez received a hug from Blanco, 35, while they stood on a beachfront boardwalk. The music producer, for his part, wore a floral hoodie and wrapped his arms around Gomez. He also planted a kiss on the back of her neck as she smiled for the camera.

Gomez debuted their relationship earlier in December, confirming via social media that they started dating six months prior.

“He is my absolute everything in my heart,” the Golden Globe nominee gushed in a since-deleted Instagram comment on December 7. “He [has] been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The end. … He’s still better than anyone I’ve been with. Facts.”

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Hours later, Gomez uploaded multiple cuddly pics of the couple to her Instagram Story. In the snaps, she was prominently wearing a “B” diamond ring that seemingly corresponded to Blanco’s initials. (His real name is Benjamin Levin.)

“Selena hasn’t felt this happy about anybody she’s dated in a really long time,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in December. “Selena and Benny are truly in love and although she has kept most people she’s dated under wraps, with Benny, she couldn’t wait to reveal they were together.”

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. Getty Images (2)

The insider further noted that Gomez’s family “absolutely approves” of the whirlwind romance, adding, “They’re thrilled to see her so happy and in love.”

A second source later told Us that Blanco “dotes on [Gomez] like a princess” and that they have already passed the “early trial stages” of dating.

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Gomez and Blanco have known each other since 2015, often collaborating on music. They last teamed up for Gomez’s newest song, “Single Soon,” which was released in August.

Shortly before Gomez hard-launched her romance with Blanco, she hinted on her Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays TV special that someone had caught her eye. In the December 4 episode, Gomez teased that she had developed a crush on a mystery man. Weeks later during the December 21 episode, she revealed that she had a date right “after” filming wrapped.

Gomez’s best friend and Selena + Chef costar, <strong>Raquelle Stevens</strong>, then proclaimed that Gomez will have a “new man” in time for 2024.

“Let’s hope!” Gomez responded. “[Dating] is so exhausting, but I’ve been single for five years. I think I’m ready.”