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Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has confirmed his Old Trafford exit in an emotional farewell message.
Van de Beek arrived at United in 2020 after a successful Ajax spell in which scored 41 goals and registered 34 assists in 175 matches. United forked out around £35m to secure his services.
However, the Netherlands international struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford, where he managed only two goals and as many assists in 62 appearances.
Even Erik ten Hag’s appointment – a manager he worked under in the Eredivisie – didn’t help Van de Beek in his efforts to reignite his struggling career.
The player spent the second half of last season on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt but he only played on eight occasions for the Bundesliga outfit, who opted not to make his loan move a permanent one.
Over the weekend, it emerged that United had struck a deal with Girona for the transfer of Van de Beek. It was said that the Red Devils would receive just a €500,000 (£420,000) up front fee. Fabrizio Romano later relayed that the final figure could rise to as high as €5m (£4.2m) if certain bonuses are triggered.
A recent report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that the 27-year-old had passed his Girona medical. Romano later sealed the transfer with his famous “here we go” catchphrase.
Earlier on Wednesday, Van de Beek took to Instagram and sent a message to United fans.
He wrote, “Dear Manchester United family. 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.”
He added, “Good luck to everybody, we’ll meet again.”
Van de Beek joins a list of players including Anthony Martial, Raphael Varane, Brandon Williams and Charlie McNeill, who have all parted ways with the club.
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