It’s safe to say the Marouane Fellaini transfer on deadline day of 2013 for Manchester United was a rather underwhelming last-minute purchase.
Under the helm of David Moyes, Manchester United entered the final hours of deadline day 11 years ago with a need for a signing.
It was a drab window, which saw just Wilfried Zaha arrive prior, but even that was technically a parting gift from Sir Alex Ferguson.
It was the big Belgian Marouane Fellaini who Moyes eventually pulled the trigger in purchasing. A stark contrast to some of the global superstars United used to lure around the time.
But it wasn’t just the six-foot-four midfielder that the Scotsman bought in during the last 24 hours. A youngster also made his way to Old Trafford, who has since gone on to thrive away from Manchester.
Saidy Janko signs with Marouane Fellaini on deadline day 2013
Alongside Fellaini – defender Saidy Janko also arrived at Manchester United from FC Zurich.
He joined United in a deal understood to be worth around £700,000 after impressing Red Devils scouts at the FIFA Blue Stars Tournament earlier this year.
The decision to splash out on the youngster looked justified when he was voted the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year that year.
Despite this, he only ever made one appearance for the Manchester United – and it wasn’t one to remember.
It was the infamous 4-0 humbling at MK Dons in the League Cup in August 2014 under Louis van Gaal. He was substituted for Andreas Pereira at half-time.
Janko subsequently joined Championship club Bolton Wanderers on loan for the rest of the season and then left for good in the summer – taking to the Scottish Premier League with Celtic.
How has Janko’s career gone since leaving Manchester United?
Since leaving Carrington – Janko has rejuvenated his career. Despite having poor stints at Celtic, Saint-Etienne, Nottingham Forest and FC Porto, he’s found a home in FC Young Boys, where he’s become an integral squad player.
| Years | Team | Apps | (Goals) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2015 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Bolton Wanderers (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Celtic | 12 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Barnsley (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Saint-Étienne | 21 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Saint-Étienne B | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2020 | Porto | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Young Boys (loan) | 33 | (0) |
| 2020–2023 | Valladolid | 34 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | → VfL Bochum (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2023– | Young Boys | 30 | (0) |
Janko has also had a drastic change in his international career, opting to switch from Switzerland, of whom he played for at youth level – to Gambia.
| Years | Internaitonal Club | Games | Goals |
| 2012–2013 | Switzerland U18 | 6 | (0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 | Switzerland U19 | 7 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Switzerland U20 | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Switzerland U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2021– | Gambia | 10 | (0) |
He played a part in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Gambia’s first continental tournament, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Saidy Janko playing Champions League this season
It’s funny how it works, whilst all of Manchester United’s fans have to wait till Thursday to watch their team play European football, Janko’s side will be lining up to play Barcelona in the Champions League – although he is injured at this current moment.
After this, the 28-year-old has a severely tough campaign with his Swiss outfit – facing the likes of Inter Milan, Atalanta and Shakhtar Donetsk alongside Blaugrana.
Fair play to Janko, he’s made a good career away from United, like so many long-lost youngsters have.
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