Anthony Martial has announced his departure from Manchester United after a nine-year tenure.
Anthony Martial, the French forward, has officially announced his departure from Manchester United after spending nine years at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old made his final appearance for the club in a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth in December 2023.
Taking to social media on Monday, Martial expressed his gratitude to the fans and bid farewell to the club that has been his home since 2015.
In his heartfelt message, Martial 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.” He went on to acknowledge the unwavering support of the fans, describing them as the best in the world. Martial expressed his gratitude for their passion, loyalty, and constant motivation throughout his time at the club.
The Frenchman also expressed his deep affection for Manchester United, stating that the club will always hold a special place in his heart. He acknowledged the impact the club has had on his career and the incredible opportunity it provided him to play in front of the fans. Martial assured the supporters that he will continue to follow the club’s results with passion and that he will always be a Red Devil.
Martial joined Manchester United from Monaco in 2015 for a record-breaking deal worth up to £58 million, making him the most expensive teenager in the sport at the time. During his tenure at the club, he achieved success, winning the FA Cup, the UEFA Europa League, and the EFL Cup.
The forward made an immediate impact upon his arrival, scoring on his debut against Liverpool and netting a brace in his first Premier League start against Southampton. He finished his debut season as the club’s top goalscorer with 17 goals in all competitions. Martial went on to make 317 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 90 goals and providing 47 assists.
His most prolific season came in 2019/20 when he found the back of the net 23 times, including his first senior hat-trick. Seventeen of those goals came in the Premier League. However, Martial’s progress was hindered by a knee injury in March 2021, which kept him out of action until the following season. Upon his return, he struggled for game time due to ongoing fitness issues, leading to a six-month loan spell at Sevilla in 2022.
In the past two seasons, Martial has made just 48 appearances for Manchester United, mostly as a substitute. Under the management of Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 season, he was limited to just 629 minutes on the pitch. Despite these challenges, Martial’s contributions to the club will not be forgotten, and his departure marks the end of an era at Old Trafford.