With the arrival of Sunday 30 June, every Premier League club will say goodbye to at least a few of their stars, except that their contracts will expire – and Manchester United will be no exception.
With the 2023/24 season officially coming to an end, seven players from Erik ten Hag's side have left the club as free agents today. A handful of them are first-team stars, others who have never really made it to the first team and will leave Old Trafford in search of new opportunities.
As announced in May, striker Anthony Martial will leave the club after nine years at Manchester United. The France international scored 90 goals in 317 appearances for the club, helping the team win the Europa League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Anthony Martial confirmed his departure on social media, writing a heartfelt letter to United fans: "Dear Manchester United fans. It is with great emotion that I write to you today to bid you farewell. After an incredible nine years at the club, it's time to turn the page on a new chapter in your career. ”
"I've been so honoured to wear this shirt since I came to the team in 2015, you guys are the best fans in the world! Your passion and loyalty have been a constant source of motivation for me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for me. Your encouragement and your love for the club are memories that I will always remember... I will leave to take on a new challenge, I will always be part of the Red Devils and I will continue to follow the results of the club with enthusiasm. To my deepest love, Anthony Martial.
Raphael Varane is another player who confirmed his departure last month after three seasons at Manchester United. The defender, who has made 95 appearances in the last three years, told be IN SPORTS last month that he is in no hurry to decide where he goes.
"I don't know," Varane said. "I'll take a moment to think about it. Back in France? Anything is possible. My contract is about to expire. It's the first time this has happened in my career, so I'll take a moment to think about it. ”
Brandon Williams, a 23-year-old Academy graduate, joined the club at the age of nine and made 51 first-team appearances before he was offered a chance to break into the starting line-up under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.
Following in the footsteps of Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, the star took to his social media account to highlight his love for the club and claim that "once you become a Red, you will always be a Red".
Jonny Evans' contract is also set to expire and United are still willing to keep on with the Academy graduate. Evans returned to the Reds after eight years as a free agent last summer and played a key role in helping Ten Hag's side beat rivals Manchester City to lift the FA Cup trophy in May. He was initially signed as a much-needed defensive depth and substitute option for the team, and his future is still up in the air after the cup final.
"I'm relieved about that," he admitted. 'I'll see what the club will say in the next few weeks, there's no talk of a new contract yet, so we'll see how it goes.'
Evans is also in the same position as goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who is said to be in talks with United to retain his role, despite his contract expiring today, with Academy stars Shora Shoretire, Charlie McNeil, Ki Plumlee and Marcus Lawrence all set to be sacked.