Manchester United made positive strides with Erik ten Hag at the helm in the Dutchman’s maiden campaign at Old Trafford last season, though they need to act decisively in the transfer market this summer to build on their third-place finish and Carabao Cup success in 2023/24.
United need quality additions in most departments, though acquiring a new centre-forward is their priority. At the same time, transfer targets have also been lined up in midfield and between the sticks, where David de Gea’s future looks uncertain.
The club’s protracted takeover saga involving the much-maligned Glazer family threatens to slow their recruitment strategy down. However, United are still expected to do some big business during the summer transfer window. Below, we’ll keep you fully updated with all the Manchester United ins and outs as the summer progresses.
Contents
- 1 Manchester United new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
- 2 Manchester United’s transfer departures
- 2.1 Phil Jones – Released
- 2.2 Axel Tuanzebe – Released
- 2.3 Ethan Galbraith – Released
- 2.4 Di’Shon Bernard – Released
- 2.5 Wout Weghorst – Burnley
- 2.6 Marcel Sabitzer – Bayern Munich
- 2.7 David de Gea – Released
- 2.8 Anthony Elanga – Nottingham Forest
- 2.9 Alex Telles – Al-Nassr
- 2.10 Fred – Fenerbahce
- 2.11 Matej Kovar – Bayer 04
- 2.12 Ethan Laird – Birmingham
- 2.13 Brandon Williams – Ipswich Town (Loan)
- 2.14 Dean Henderson – Crystal Palace
Manchester United new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Mason Mount
Out of all the interesting transfers we saw during the summer of 2023, Mason Mount’s arrival at Old Trafford is definitely one that is talked up the most. The former Chelsea midfielder opted for a new adventure with the Red Devils jersey.
American businessman Todd Boehly received a staggering €64.20m for Mason Mount. The midfielder had a medical at the club on the 4th of July and quickly signed the contract with his new club, saying that he’s eager for the new challenge ahead of him.
Rasmus Hojlund
Offering €70m for a 20-year-old player might be considered by some as a risky move. However, we’d have to trust coach Erik ten Hag on this one, as the Dutch manager seems something extraordinary in the Danish striker.
Rasmus Hojlund had a decent season with Atalanta. He made 32 official Serie A appearances, during which he scored nine and assisted two. Those are definitely not world-class statistics to have, but Ramus has his whole career ahead of him.
Red Devils director John Murtrough welcomed up-and-coming Hojlund to the club, calling him an “exceptional talent”. There have been some phenomenal finishers playing for Manchester United, so Rasmus will definitely have to prove his worth sooner rather than later.
Andre Onana
After parting ways with Spanish legend David de Gea, the Red Devils had no option but to swiftly find a suitable replacement. Coach Hag sees Andre Onana as the right man for the job. That’s why Manchester United’s €52m offer to Serie A’s Inter Milan was a can’t-miss opportunity for the Nerazzurri.
Andre Onana already joined his new club and even took part in a couple of pre-season friendlies. He’ll surely be the star goalkeeper for Manchester United, with Dean Henderson and Matej Kovar serving as backups.
Jonny Evans
It's one of the more random deals of the summer, but Jonny Evans has re-joined Man United on a free transfer from Leicester, having left the club back in 2015. Evans came through the youth ranks at Manchester United, and even won a Champions League and three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Evans was with Manchester United during their pre-season tour of the USA so he could maintain fitness. But ten Hag was said to be so impressed with him that he's been offered a one-year deal. The 35-year-old will offer plenty of experience, and likely puts fresh doubt over the future of former club captain Harry Maguire.
Sergio Reguilon
With Luke Shaw out for some time, and with Malacia already injured. Manchester United were forced into the market for a left-back. With a number of options out of reach, they've turned to Spurs' forgotten man Reguilon. Having spent last season on loan with Athletico Madrid, Reguilon failed to make a notable impact on the squad. Having only played 11 times total. He'll now hope to secure a spot in the Man U starting 11, though we suspect this move is purely an emergency cover for Shaw and Malacia.
Reguilon has a break clause inserted into his contract by Manchester United. The deal can be ended in January, we assume if Shaw is back fit.
Sofyan Amrabat
Manchester United ended their transfer window with the loan signing of Sofyan Amrabat. The deal will cost Manchester United £10m for the season, with the Fiorentina man making the switch after Manchester United chased their man for a considerable time throughout the window.
Manchester United’s transfer departures
Phil Jones – Released
Phil Jones has finally left Manchester United this summer following an injury-hit decade with the club. Jones made just six Premier League appearances during his last four seasons with United, though he leaves Old Trafford with an EPL winners medal and honours in both the FA Cup and Europa League.
Letter to the fans. pic.twitter.com/fmNV1eR9np
— Phil Jones (@PhilJones4) May 19, 2023
Axel Tuanzebe – Released
Club academy product Axel Tuanzebe is a free agent following the expiration of his deal with United and the centre-half will be looking for a new club for the first time since he was eight years old this summer. The 25-year-old will be best remembered for his superb performance while marking Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League in October 2020.
Ethan Galbraith – Released
Classy midfielder Ethan Galbraith will seek out a new challenge this summer after choosing to leave United on a free transfer. The Northern Ireland international enjoyed a productive campaign on loan with Salford in 2022/23 and he should have no shortage of suitors in the EFL.
Di’Shon Bernard – Released
Centre-half Di’Shon Bernard is another youngster taken off the books by United this summer. The defender spent the previous season on loan with Portsmouth where he put in some impressive shifts at the back. The 22-year-old former Chelsea starlet should pick up a new club relatively soon.
Wout Weghorst – Burnley
Dutch striker Wout Weghorst is officially back with promoted Burnley following the end of his loan spell with United. The Oranje international scored just twice for the Red Devils during his temporary stay and United opted against pursuing a permanent deal for the goal-shy 30-year-old.
Marcel Sabitzer – Bayern Munich
Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer has returned to Bayern Munich following a short stay with United on loan. Sabitzer turned heads with some dynamic displays in several different positions for United, though injuries kept him out of action for the run-in and may have scuppered his chances of landing a permanent gig in Manchester.
David de Gea – Released
32-year-old David de Gea still has a couple of good years ahead of him, but Manchester United’s board of directors decided to relieve the Spaniard of his obligations with the red jersey. After 12 memorable years with Manchester United, David de Gea is now free to search for new adventures. Latest rumors take him to the Saudi Pro League, but nothing is confirmed yet.
Anthony Elanga – Nottingham Forest
Manchester United’s men in charge received €17.50m reasons why Anthony Elanga should leave the club. Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Elanga ended positively for them, as the 21-year-old winger put his name on a five-year deal with the two-time Champions League winners.
Alex Telles – Al-Nassr
The Brazilian left-back is the latest ‘victim’ of Saudi Arabia’s football project. The 30-year-old reunited with former teammate and Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, as Al-Nassr offered the irresistible €7.00m for his services. Seeing as Alex Telles was definitely not going to get the desired minutes at Old Trafford, why shouldn’t he opt for a tad more unorthodox move at this stage of his career?
Fred – Fenerbahce
Fred has called time on his Man United journey, having secured a £13m move to Turkish side Fenerbahce. While Fred looked better under ten Hag, he was unlikely to feature as heavily in the 23/24 season. With just one year left on his contract, Manchester United instead opted to cash in on the Brazilian midfielder.
Fred was a near permanent fixture in the Man United squad last season, playing an impressive 56 times across all competitions. With 139 total appearances since his £47m move from Shakhtar Donetsk, Fred has never really hit it off with Manchester United fans.
Matej Kovar – Bayer 04
Another academy player sold off this summer is keeper Matej Kovar. Having been at the club for over five years, he was only able to make an impact at a youth level. Picking up just shy of 50 appearances for the U21 side. Kovar spent last season on loan with Sparta Prague, picking up a Czech league winner's medal for his trouble. Having never made a competitive appearance for Man United, he'll now move to Germany as he looks to push for a spot in his national team.
Ethan Laird – Birmingham
Laird, another academy graduate, is the latest to make the move away from the red half of Manchester. Receiving a fee of £750k for the young right-back, Laird will now make the permanent switch to Birmingham City of the Championship. The sale also includes a “large” sell-on clause in case Laird goes on to be sold for a pretty penny in the future.
Laird spent last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers, making 33 appearances across the season. He picked up two senior appearances for Manchester United.
Brandon Williams – Ipswich Town (Loan)
22-year-old Williams heads out on loan, this time to Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town. With 51 first-team appearances for Manchester United, Williams will head out for his second loan spell, having spent the 21/22 season with Norwich, local rivals of his new club Ipswich.
Williams is now in the final year of his contract with Manchester United, though the club retains an option to extend the deal by a year. Williams featured for Ipswich in the Carabao Cup, where he scored an own goal just 74 seconds into his debut.
Dean Henderson – Crystal Palace
Having spent last season out on loan with Nottingham Forest, Dean Henderson found himself once again out of favour at Manchester United. An injury cut his time short at Forest, where he was replaced by PSG keeper Keylor Navas. Henderson will leave Manchester United on a permanent basis for £15m, plus £5m in add-ons.
