Donny van de Beek completes permanent transfer away from Man Utd

Donny van de Beek has completed a permanent transfer to Girona from Manchester United, ending a disappointing four-year spell at Old Trafford.

The Dutch midfielder, who rose to prominence and acclaim as part of the Ajax side that was a kick away from the 2019 Champions League final, has signed a four-year contract Girona until 2028.

Van de Beek moved to United for around £40m in the summer of 2020, with the expectation that he would help take an improving club back towards the pinnacle of English and European football under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But a struggle to establish himself, despite a goal on his Premier League debut, led to only limited playing time. Van de Beek spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Everton, before then joining Eintracht Frankfurt, who didn't exercise an option to buy, for six months in January 2024.

"Everybody at United would like to wish Donny the very best of luck in this next chapter of his career. He will be back in England soon, as Girona have pre-season friendlies lined up at Newcastle United and Bournemouth next month," read a statement from his now former club.

Van de Beek had already addressed his impending departure in a message to fans earlier this week.

"Dear Manchester United family, today is a memorable day as my adventure at the club comes to an end," he wrote. "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. Good luck to everybody, we'll meet again."

Van de Beek can look forward to playing Champions League football with Girona in 2024/25, after the Catalan side emerged as La Liga's surprise package to finish third in the final standings.

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