Anthony Martial has confirmed his departure from Manchester United after nine seasons.
Martial, 28, scored 90 goals across his United career but had to deal with multiple injury setbacks in recent seasons — his final appearance for the club came in the three-goal home defeat against Bournemouth in December.
The French striker signed a new five-year deal in 2019, which included a clause enabling United to prolong his stay by 12 months until June 2025, but The Athletic reported in December that the club would not exercise that option.
Martial has not scored more than 10 goals in a season since the 2019-20 campaign, and this campaign he found the net just twice while being limited to five starts across all competitions.
The Frenchman posted a goodbye message on his Instagram account on Monday evening, confirming he was leaving the club that he joined as a teenager from Monaco in the summer of 2015.
Martial spoke of his “great emotion” at leaving, thanking United’s “best supporters in the world” fanbase for their “unwavering support”.
The striker said: “Manchester United will always be in my heart. This club has left its mark on my career and offered me an incredible opportunity to play in front of you. I’m leaving to take on new challenges, I’ll always be a Red Devil and I’ll continue to follow the club’s results with passion.”
Martial spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Sevilla — where he scored just once — and won the FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League and Community Shield during his career at Old Trafford.
GO DEEPER
Martial was bought to be a United superstar but he will leave with a whimper
The striker has been capped 30 times by France, scoring twice.
Martial is the second player from United’s first-team squad to confirm their exit this summer, with defender Raphael Varane also departing at the end of his contract.
(Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
