French professional footballer, Anthony Jordan Martial has officially announced his departure from Manchester United, concluding a nine-year tenure with the club. The French forward’s contract with Manchester United is set to expire this summer, and he will be leaving as a free agent.
Martial shared the news of his exit with fans via a heartfelt post on his Instagram page, reflecting on his time at the club and expressing gratitude for the support he received throughout his career at Old Trafford.
At 28 years old, Martial is now poised to explore new opportunities and challenges as he moves on from Manchester United, he wrote:
“Dear Manchester United fans. It’s with great emotion that I write to you today to say goodbye. After nine incredible years at the club, the time has come for me to turn a new page in my career.”
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Martial’s final appearance for Manchester United came on December 9, 2023, in a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Since joining United in September 2015 from AS Monaco for a fee of £36 million, Martial has made a significant impact.
Over his tenure, he scored 90 goals and provided 47 assists in 317 appearances across all competitions. His contributions helped the team secure several major trophies, including the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the UEFA Europa League, and the EFL Cup.
Shortly after his transfer to Manchester United, Martial earned his debut for the France national team under coach Didier Deschamps. Since then, he has been capped 30 times, scoring two goals for his country.
Martial’s career at United started with a bang, as he quickly made a name for himself by scoring in his debut match—a memorable 3-1 victory against Liverpool. Just a week later, he netted a brace in his first Premier League start, leading United to a win against Southampton. He finished his debut season in 2015/16 as the club’s top scorer with 17 goals in all competitions.
However, Martial’s career has also been marred by injuries. A significant knee injury in March 2021 sidelined him until the following season.
Upon his return, he struggled to regain consistent game time due to ongoing fitness issues, leading to a six-month loan spell at Sevilla in 2022. In the last two seasons at United, Martial managed just 48 appearances, mostly as a substitute, and was limited to only 629 minutes under manager Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 season.
As Martial prepares to leave Manchester United, he looks back on a period filled with both highs and lows. His departure marks the end of an era and opens a new chapter in his career, where he will seek fresh opportunities and challenges beyond Old Trafford.