Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has penned an emotionally charged message to fans after confirming his exit from Old Trafford this summer.
Donny van de Beek arrived at the Premier League club in 2020 after Manchester United signed him from Ajax in a deal worth £35m, with a further £5m in add-ons.
The 27-year-old midfielder had made a name for himself playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and even attracted interest from Real Madrid ahead of his United move.
Van de Beek was a key part of the Ajax team that had engineered their scintillating run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.
The Dutchman, who was named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2019, failed to replicate his stunning Ajax form during his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek struggled to establish himself as a regular under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the former United manager was sacked from the Premier League club.
It was hoped that the former United star could see a potential resurgence in form after Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s successor.
However, Van de Beek’s form never lifted off again under Ten Hag at United and the former Ajax midfielder suffered a devastating knee injury in 2023.
Van de Beek sends message to Man Utd fans
Donny van de Beek had an ill-fated loan spell at Everton in January 2022 and managed only seven appearances during his six months at Goodison Park.
The Manchester United player struggled for minutes under Erik ten Hag and Van de Beek was loaned out to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt back in January.
Van de Beek managed eight appearances during his forgettable spell in Germany, with Eintracht Frankfurt not trigging their option to make the move permanent.
The former Netherlands international took to Instagram and posted a heartfelt message to United fans after marking the end of his chapter at Old Trafford.
“Dear Manchester United family,” Van de Beek wrote on Wednesday.
“Today is a memorable day as my adventure at the club comes to an end. I want to thank you all for your support throughout the years.
“From the moment we arrived at Manchester United, we felt extremely welcome and we are grateful for that.
“Thank you to everyone at the club for making us feel at home. A special thanks to all the fans that made these years unforgettable.
“Besides the football, the birth of our two children here ensures that Manchester will always have a special place in our hearts. Good luck to everybody, we’ll meet again.”
What’s next for Van de Beek post-Man Utd?
According to BBC Sport, Van de Beek has been tipped to make a permanent move to La Liga outfit Girona after his disappointing loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Van de Beek was under contract with United until 2025 before he confirmed his exit from the club, with Girona reportedly paying a ‘minimal initial fee’ for the player.
BBC Sport reports that further add-ons in the deal for Van de Beek could lead to the transfer fee reaching a total of £16.9m if they are met.
United have also agreed to include a ‘large sell-on clause’ as part of their deal to sell the former Netherlands midfielder to Girona.
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