David de Gea confirms Manchester United exit with emotional message to fans and 'dear Sir Alex'

David de Gea has announced that he's leaving Manchester United after 12 years at the club.

The Spaniard, whose contract expired at the end of June, released a statement via social media on Saturday thanking United fans for their "unwavering gratitude and appreciation", attaching several photos from across his lengthy spell as the club's No. 1 goalkeeper.

"I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters," De Gea began. "I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years.

"We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible pride every time I pulled on this shirt, to lead the team, to represent this institution, the biggest club in the world was an honour only bestows upon a few lucky footballers.

"It’s been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here. I didn’t think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together.

"Now, it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings. Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me.

"We’ve seen it all."

Hundreds of United fans rushed to the comments section to thank the 32-year-old, who departs having made 545 appearances for the club.

"Thank you for everything David. A true servant of the club. Good luck in your next chapter. Always Untied" one person tweeted. A second said: "Recent form aside, you leave a Manchester United club legend."

A third added: "Thank you for everything Dave. Good luck with everything. You've been an ever present for the last 12 years, gonna be weird to see a new number 1."

De Gea in action for Manchester United

A fourth wrote: "Love ya David thank you for all the wonderful memories and everything you did for our club, wish you the best on your future."

De Gea was initially set to extend his stay at Old Trafford after agreeing to United's latest contract offer, though it was controversially withdrawn by the club at the last minute.

It comes following news the Red Devils are closing in on a deal to sign Inter Milan star Andre Onana, with Erik ten Hag keen to sign a keeper who can play comfortably with the ball at his feet.

I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters.

I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years. We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible… pic.twitter.com/6R7ezOEf1E

— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) July 8, 2023

 De Gea leaves as United's most-capped foreign player, their most-capped goalkeeper, and their seventh-most capped player of all time. He joined from Atletico Madrid as a 19-year-old in 2011, and won the Premier League for the first and only time in 2013.

He very nearly moved to Real Madrid in 2015, but the deal was suspiciously botched at the 11th hour on deadline day after United submitted official paperwork minutes after the transfer window closed.

He then won the FA Cup in 2016 as well as the Europa League and the League Cup in 2017. During this time De Gea was widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, though a significant dip in form around 2019 changed that.

He lost his place in the Spanish national side and began making regular high-profile errors in a United shirt, though the club found it tough to shift the player given his £375,000-a-week wages.

De Gea won his fifth and final trophy with the club earlier this year, with the Red Devils beating Newcastle in the League Cup final, and he topped the season off by winning the Premier League Golden Glove award.