Sean McGinty in action for Charlton Picture: Edmund Boyden

The dad of Maidstone youngster Sean McGinty says his son's opportunity to join Premier League champions Manchester United was too good to miss.

The 15-year-old defender, from Bearsted, will join the academy side at Old Trafford under the guidance of Brian McClair after ending a three-year association with Charlton.

Sean, a former pupil at Borden Grammar School, Sittingbourne, was offered the chance to join Charlton’s academy but when Manchester United came calling, his father Terry knew it was an offer too good to turn down.

"We’ve never spoken to another club," said Terry. "It was either Charlton or Manchester United and this was just too big a thing to turn down.

"We knew there were a lot of top clubs chasing him but what it boils down to is ‘are they serious about it?’ Manchester United proved that whatever money it took, they were prepared to pay it and they showed that they must have belief in Sean.

"As a parent you always think they might have a chance but you never think that Manchester United will come in for him.

"We based the decision on whether he was good enough and I feel that one day he could play for the first team – I think he is good enough and, if I didn’t, he wouldn’t have gone there."

Sean played for Bearsted as a youngster before moving into Charlton’s academy and his father praised some of his coaches who helped steer him on the right path.

"There were a couple of good guys at Bearsted," said Terry. "Steve Heads and Barry Law were great and it’s a good set-up there but, once he joined Charlton’s academy, he had to leave.

"Graham Harrison from the advanced centre at Charlton is an unsung hero there and a fantastic guy. Charlton’s Steve Avery has been fundamental to his success.

"Sean used to play central midfield and Steve wanted to move him into defence. We had some strong discussions about it but I said I trusted Steve and I’ve been proved right."

Sean will soon have another big decision to make after he was recently called up to the England under-17 side, despite already amassing 10 caps for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.