Wythenshawe AFC has signed Antonio Valencia, the former Manchester United captain, for its veteran team. The 40-year-old Ecuadorian international spent a decade at Old Trafford, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, and the Europa League before retiring in 2021. His addition joins a roster of Premier League veterans, including Joleon Lescott, Danny Drinkwater, and Emile Heskey, at the Cheshire-based club.

Valencia, who played 339 matches for United and earned 99 caps for Ecuador, joins through Wythenshawe’s network of ex-professionals. The club’s chairman praised him as "an amazing addition," highlighting his experience in helping build the team’s culture. Wythenshawe has won all seven games this season in the Cheshire Vets League Premier Division, scoring 62 goals and conceding just eight.

The squad’s combined transfer fees total £140m, with players like Oumar Niasse (Everton), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), and Stephen Ireland (Man City) contributing to over 2,000 top-flight appearances and 21 major trophies. Despite their pedigree, the players fund their own subscriptions, with chairman Carl Barratt’s wife collecting fees via mail.

This move underscores Wythenshawe’s focus on blending grassroots development with elite experience. As Valencia settles in, the club aims to leverage its star-studded roster to dominate local leagues while inspiring youth through its academy, AV25, founded by the retired winger.