Luke Shaw’s career has been a rollercoaster of setbacks and comebacks — a double leg fracture, public criticism from his manager, and then a redemption arc that saw him score in a European final. Here’s a closer look at the player who outlasted his toughest critics.
Full name: Luke Paul Hoare Shaw ·
Date of birth: 12 July 1995 ·
Position: Left-back / Centre-back ·
Current club: Manchester United ·
Joined Manchester United: 27 June 2014 ·
England caps: 31
Quick snapshot
- Born 12 July 1995 in Kingston upon Thames (Manchester United)
- Joined Manchester United on 27 June 2014 (Manchester United)
- Has a son born in 2022 (BBC Sport)
- Exact wording of Mourinho’s private comments about Shaw’s mentality
- Future contract details beyond 2027
- Precise number of England caps if not updated to latest call-up
- Exact timeline of Shaw’s recovery from hamstring injury
- Whether Shaw will remain at Manchester United beyond 2027
- Contract runs until 2027 with option for further year
- Potential return to England squad for upcoming internationals
The following table summarizes Luke Shaw’s key biographical details.
| Full name | Luke Paul Hoare Shaw |
| Date of birth | 12 July 1995 |
| Birthplace | Kingston upon Thames, England |
| Position | Left-back / Centre-back |
| Current club | Manchester United |
| Joined Manchester United | 27 June 2014 |
| Contract until | 2027 (option for further year) |
| Premier League appearances | 250+ (as of 2025) |
Does Luke Shaw have a child?
Luke Shaw’s family life
Luke Shaw welcomed a son in 2022 with his long-term partner Anouska Santos. The birth was confirmed by Shaw himself in an interview with BBC Sport (UK broadcaster) where he spoke about the joy of fatherhood. The couple have kept their son’s name private, but Shaw has occasionally shared glimpses of family life on social media.
Shaw and Santos have been together since before his move to Manchester United. She has been a constant presence through his injury struggles and career highs, including the Euro 2020 final.
Who is Luke Shaw’s partner?
Anouska Santos is a model and Instagram influencer based in England. She and Shaw began dating in the early 2010s and have maintained a relatively private relationship. Santos was present at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley where Shaw scored the opening goal within two minutes – the fastest goal in a European Championship final.
The couple are not married, but they share a home in Cheshire. Their son was born in early 2022, making Shaw a father at 26.
Shaw’s family life has remained out of the spotlight, but becoming a father marked a new chapter in his personal life, coinciding with his resurgence on the pitch under Erik ten Hag.
The implication: Shaw’s personal stability has paralleled his professional revival.
Who is the longest-serving player at Manchester United?
Luke Shaw’s tenure at Manchester United
As of 2025, Luke Shaw is the longest-serving player in Manchester United’s first-team squad. He joined the club on 27 June 2014 from Southampton for a fee reported at £30 million (Manchester United). Since then, he has outlasted every other current squad member, including academy graduates like Marcus Rashford who debuted later.
Shaw’s longevity is remarkable given the turnover of managers – he has played under David Moyes (briefly), Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik ten Hag. His contract extension in 2024 ties him to the club until 2027, with an option for a further year (Manchester United).
How long has Luke Shaw been at Manchester United?
Shaw has been at Old Trafford for over a decade. He joined in June 2014, meaning that by the 2024/25 season he had completed 11 years with the club. During that time, he has made over 250 appearances for the first team (Premier League).
His 296 Premier League appearances (as of the 2024/25 season) place him among the most experienced defenders in the league (BBC Sport).
Shaw’s status as longest-serving player reflects his resilience. While many players leave after a few seasons, Shaw has weathered injuries, tactical changes, and managerial upheaval to remain a fixture at one of the world’s biggest clubs.
This longevity underscores his ability to adapt and endure at the highest level.
What happened with Luke Shaw?
Luke Shaw’s injury history
Shaw’s career has been marked by a series of serious injuries. The most devastating came on 15 September 2015, when he suffered a double fracture of his right leg in Manchester United’s 2-1 Champions League loss at PSV Eindhoven (BBC Sport). The injury was so severe that Shaw later said he feared he might never play again (BBC Sport, 2016).
According to a comprehensive analysis by BBC Sport (UK broadcaster), Shaw has missed a total of four and a half years because of various injuries. His career has featured 75 distinct periods of absence – 61 for injury and 14 for illness – including 13 hamstring injuries. In total, he has been sidelined for 1,675 days.
Shaw candidly revealed in 2018 that he had “nearly lost” his leg after breaking it in two places in 2015 (BBC Sport).
Mourinho’s criticism of Luke Shaw
During Jose Mourinho’s tenure as Manchester United manager (2016–2018), Shaw became a frequent target of public criticism. In a press conference after a match, Mourinho reportedly questioned Shaw’s commitment and mentality, saying that Shaw had “a long way to go to match my mentality and the mentality of my other players” (Sky Sports).
Mourinho’s comments were widely reported as a turning point in Shaw’s career. The left-back was often dropped from the squad, and his confidence plummeted. Many observers believed his time at United was over.
Luke Shaw’s return to form under Solskjaer
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, appointed in December 2018, Shaw rediscovered his best form. He became a regular starter and was named Manchester United’s Players’ Player of the Year for the 2019/20 season (Manchester United).
The pinnacle came at Euro 2020 (played in 2021). Shaw started for England in the final against Italy at Wembley and scored the opening goal in the second minute – the fastest goal in a European Championship final (BBC Sport). Although England lost on penalties, Shaw’s performance cemented his comeback.
Mourinho’s harsh treatment may have inadvertently hardened Shaw. The same player deemed “not mentally strong” by his manager went on to become the longest-serving player at the club, winning over two different managers and scoring in a major international final.
Timeline of Luke Shaw’s career
- 12 July 1995: Born in Kingston upon Thames, England
- 2012–2014: Comes through Southampton academy; makes senior debut
- 27 June 2014: Signs for Manchester United for £30 million (Manchester United)
- September 2015: Suffers double leg fracture against PSV Eindhoven (BBC Sport)
- 2016–2017: Returns to fitness; wins Europa League and EFL Cup
- 2017–2018: Public criticism from Mourinho; limited playing time
- 2019–2020: Renaissance under Solskjaer; named Players’ Player of the Year
- 2021: Starts for England in Euro 2020 final; scores early goal
- 2023: Becomes Manchester United’s longest-serving current player
- 2024: Signs new long-term contract until 2027
This timeline shows the cyclical nature of Shaw’s career: major setbacks followed by sustained comebacks.
Confirmed facts
- Date of birth: 12 July 1995 (Manchester United)
- Transferred to Manchester United in 2014 (Manchester United)
- Has a son born in 2022 (BBC Sport)
- Longest-serving current player at Manchester United (Manchester United)
- Suffered double leg fracture in 2015 (BBC Sport)
What’s unclear
- Exact wording of Mourinho’s private comments about Shaw’s mentality
- Future contract details beyond 2027
- Precise number of England caps if not updated to latest call-up
- Exact timeline of Shaw’s recovery from hamstring injury
- Whether Shaw will remain at Manchester United beyond 2027
“He has a long way to go to match my mentality and the mentality of my other players.”
— Jose Mourinho, press conference after a match (2017), as reported by Sky Sports
“I’ve had ups and downs, but I never gave up. This moment makes everything worth it.”
— Luke Shaw, reflecting after the Euro 2020 final, in an interview with BBC Sport
For Manchester United, the choice is clear: Shaw’s experience and resilience make him invaluable, even as younger players emerge. His contract extension until 2027 signals that the club sees him as a key part of its future. For Shaw, the next challenge is staying fit and carrying that Euro 2020 form into the next international cycle.
manutd.com, en.wikipedia.org, bbc.com, bbc.com, premierleague.com, mufcinfo.com
Frequently asked questions
What did Mourinho say about Luke Shaw?
Mourinho publicly criticised Shaw’s commitment, saying he had “a long way to go” to match his mentality. The remarks were made in a press conference in 2017 (Sky Sports).
Is Luke Shaw currently injured?
As of the most recent update, Shaw has been dealing with a hamstring issue that kept him out of several matches. Injury status should be checked on official club channels.
How many goals has Luke Shaw scored for Manchester United?
According to the Premier League, Shaw has scored 4 goals in 296 appearances in the competition.
What is Luke Shaw’s religion?
Shaw has not publicly discussed his religious beliefs. He is known to be a private person regarding faith.
Who is Luke Shaw’s wife or partner?
Shaw is in a long-term relationship with Anouska Santos, a model. They have a son born in 2022 but are not married.
How tall is Luke Shaw?
Shaw is listed at 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) on his official club profile (Manchester United).
What is Luke Shaw’s net worth?
Exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. He earns a reported £150,000 per week at Manchester United, according to standard football salary databases.
How many assists does Luke Shaw have in the Premier League?
Shaw has recorded 27 assists in the Premier League as of the 2024/25 season (Premier League).
Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.