DJ Buffonge: The Manchester United Prospect with More Than a Name to Remember

Darren Raekwon McIntosh-Buffonge, better known as DJ Buffonge, signed for Manchester United’s academy from Fulham in late 2015. Since then, he has become an integral part of one of the most exciting things currently happening at the club.

The first team might be struggling, the under-23s might be underwhelming, but United’s under-18 team is packed with talent, full of “remember the name” candidates.

Of course, no one who has heard Darren Raekwon McIntosh-Buffonge’s name will ever forget it—at least not anyone with more than a passing interest in the Wu-Tang Clan—but Buffonge’s performance levels are such that it might not just be the name that people become familiar with.

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Last season he made 13 starts for United’s under-18s, scoring once and providing a notable seven assists. This season, in 10 starts and two substitute appearances, he has four goals and four assists.

He has been given his inaugural under-23 appearance, too, coming on as a substitute in the “mini-derby” against Manchester City’s reserves in September.

In his early days at United, then-under-18s coach Paul McGuinness told Stuart Mathieson of Manchester Evening News: “He’s a talented young player. He is a left sided midfield player who can beat people and plays some good through balls as well. In old-fashioned terms I would say he was an inside-forward but in modern day speak he is an attacking midfielder. But he is versatile as well.”

Jack Wilkinson of Sky Sports wrote of Buffonge’s background:

Nurtured through his early footballing years at Arsenal’s academy, it was at Fulham where Buffonge started to make a name for himself.

Having moved to Motspur Park in 2010, Fulham’s run to the FA Youth Cup final in 2013/14 presented Buffonge, then part of the clubs U16 set-up, with the chance to break into the U18 squad for league fixtures.

Bleacher Report spoke with Doron Salomon, a follower of United’s youth setup. He was full of praise for the youngster and echoed McGuinness’ comments about versatility.

“I am not too sure what his best position is just yet. Last season we generally saw him in a wide attacking role, while at the start of this season he was very much in a deeper central role, pretty much as a centre midfielder. I suspect an attacking role will be where he eventually ends up, but his qualities do mean he can do a number of jobs for now.

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