Man Utd release list of players on free transfer

Manchester United has announced the departure of players from Old Trafford this summer on free transfers with Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane being the most notable exits.

Martial arrived at United from Monaco in September 2015 in a deal initially valued at £36m, which increased to £57.6m based on achieved bonuses.

Martial expressed at that time 'My dream has always been to play in the Premier League and joining the world's biggest club is what every young footballer aspires for' However, he only managed to exceed the 20-goal threshold once during his nine-year stint in Manchester.

The 28-year-old's tenure was seriously hampered by injuries, as highlighted by his mere 42 Premier League appearances in his last three years at the club. He netted 63 goals in 209 Premier League matches and scored an additional 27 in other competitions.

Not only will United save on Martial's salary, but also on Varane's, who was with the club for three years after a notable transfer from Real Madrid, the 15-time Champions League winners.

Varane was plagued by multiple injuries as well, limiting his Premier League appearances to only 68. His departure from United coincides with considerable interest from the affluent Saudi Pro League.

New contract discussions with Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton have been confirmed by United, and first-team newcomer Omari Forson has officially been proposed a new contract. Negotiations continue with Shola Shoretire, who made five appearances in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

Another product of the United academy, Brandon Williams, is departing after spending the 2023/24 season on loan at Ipswich Town. Charlie McNeill, Marcus Lawrence, Kie Plumley, and Tom Huddlestone, who mentored and played with the Under-21s for two years, are also leaving.