Donny van de Beek confirms Man Utd exit after 'unforgettable' four-year spell at Old Trafford with two-goal midfielder set to complete £500k transfer to Girona

Van de Beek joined Manchester United from Ajax in September 2020 after the Red Devils shelled out £35 million (€41m/$45m) for him. However, Van de Beek struggled to secure a regular spot in United’s starting lineup. His debut season saw him make just 19 appearances in the Premier League, and he found himself increasingly sidelined in subsequent seasons.

In a bid to regain form and fitness, Van de Beek was loaned to Everton for the second half of the 2021-22 season. His time at Goodison Park was marred by a thigh injury that sidelined him until the final day of the campaign. Returning to United with the arrival of his former Ajax coach, Erik ten Hag, Van de Beek hoped for a fresh start. Unfortunately, he failed to fit into Ten Hag's system and subsequently went on another loan to Eintracht Frankfurt - where he again failed to meet expectations.

On July 10, Van de Beek shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, addressing the United community. "Dear Manchester United family, today marks the end of my journey with the club," he wrote.

"I want to thank you all for your support throughout the years. From the moment we arrived, we felt extremely welcome, and we are grateful for that. A special thanks to all the fans who made these years unforgettable. Besides 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 is now all set to join Girona in La Liga for an initial fee of €500,000 (£423,000/$542,000), a fraction of the amount the Premier League outfit paid for him. However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal includes several "easy" add-ons, potentially increasing the total amount to between €4 million (£3.38m/$4.33m) and €5 million (£4.22m/$5.41m), while there are more add-ons up to €10/15m (£8.45m,$10.82m/£12.67m,$16.23m).

As Van de Beek embarks on his new chapter at Girona with just two goals to his name as a United player, he carries with him the hopes of rediscovering the form that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. He will also get the opportunity to make his mark in the Champions League, thanks to Girona finishing third in La Liga last season.