Goalkeeper David de Gea has announced his departure from Manchester United after his contract expired following 12 years with the club.
De Gea posted a farewell message to Manchester United fans on social media on July 8th. "I express my gratitude and appreciation for the love you've shown me over the past 12 years," the 33-year-old goalkeeper wrote. "We've won so many trophies since the venerable manager Alex Ferguson brought me here. I've always been proud to wear the shirt of the best club in the world . This honor is reserved for very few players."
David de Gea after Manchester United's match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on May 20, 2023. Photo: Reuters
De Gea joined Manchester United in the summer of 2011 for $24 million, after two breakout seasons at Atletico Madrid. He won seven titles with Man Utd, including the 2013 Premier League and the 2017 Europa League. The Spanish goalkeeper was named to the Premier League Team of the Year five times and won the Golden Glove twice, but his form declined from the 2018-2019 season. He ended his 12-year career at Man Utd with 545 appearances, the seventh most in the club's history.
"I had an unforgettable successful time at Man Utd, which I didn't think I would achieve when I left Madrid as a young boy," he added. "It's time for me to seek a new challenge. Manchester will always be in my heart, it shaped me and will never leave me. We witnessed everything there."
Last season, De Gea played all 38 Premier League matches but made serious mistakes in crucial games such as the Europa League quarter-final and the FA Cup final. Initially, Man Utd agreed to keep him at a lower salary than his current one. However, after those mistakes, manager Erik ten Hag changed his mind and decided not to renew De Gea's contract. The 33-year-old goalkeeper will be free to choose a new team after his contract with Man Utd expires.
Manchester United's official website also announced De Gea's departure, accompanied by tributes from Ten Hag and Director of Football John Murtough. Ten Hag said: "I am very grateful for De Gea's 25 clean sheets, and his overall contribution during my first season here. De Gea will be remembered as one of the best goalkeepers in the club's history."
De Gea's 11 saves in the match against Tottenham on January 13, 2019.
Man Utd are also close to reaching an agreement to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter for a transfer fee of around $60 million. The Cameroonian goalkeeper previously worked with coach Erik ten Hag for five years at Ajax, and will be reunited with him at Old Trafford.
Man Utd also have no intention of keeping goalkeeper Dean Henderson and are preparing to sell him to Nottingham Forest. They want to buy another backup goalkeeper, most likely 21-year-old Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Urawa Reds, Japan.
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