EPL: Manchester United confirm departures of 6 players as free agents

Manchester United have confirmed that six players will leave the club this summer as free agents after their contracts expire.

The players’ contracts have now expired and they are now formally available on free transfers.

Three of the players have largely featured in youth and academy teams, the other three have been, at one time, prominent in the first team set-up.

The club’s coach, Erik ten Hag has reportedly given his blessing to see Phil Jones, David de Gea, and Axel Tuanzebe leave.

Ethan Galbraith, Charlie Wellens and Di’Shon Bernard are the others leaving. A lot of focus will be on De Gea and former United star Rio Ferdinand bemoaned the way the saga around the Spaniard’s future has been handled to this point.

De Gea’s previous contract had a one-year extension clause which United declined to trigger due to concerns over his £375,000-a-week wages.

De Gea, who becomes a free agent on the day of his wedding, could remain with United as the Red Devils have extended an offer and are planning to continue negotiations with the 32-year-old.

Jones, now 31, joined from Blackburn in 2011 but struggled greatly with injuries and leaves United with 229 appearances to his name, having managed over 20 Premier League appearances in just four of his 12 seasons at Old Trafford.

Academy graduate Tuanzebe also says goodbye to his boyhood side with 37 appearances under his belt.

22-year-old midfielder Ethan Galbraith has been released alongside 20-year-old right-back Charlie Wellens and 22-year-old centre-back Di’Shon Bernard.

Of the young trio, both Galbraith and Bernard managed a solitary appearance for the senior team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2019’s Europa League clash with Astana.

The players released by Manchester United will now be on the lookout for a deal with any club that looks towards their direction as free agents.