Donny van de Beek sends message to Manchester United fans ahead of exit

Donny van de Beek says his time at Manchester United has "come to an end" with a move to Spanish side Girona understood to be close to completion.

The Dutch midfielder joined the Red Devils from Ajax in September 2020 for an initial £34.1million but has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, and spent the second half of last season on loan at German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

He is now poised to make a permanent exit from United, with Girona - who will play in next season's Champions League - set to be his destination.

He wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday: "Dear Manchester United family. Today is a memorable day as my adventure at the club comes to an end.

"I want to thank you for all your support throughout the years. From the moment we arrived at Manchester United, we felt extremely welcome and we are grateful for that.

"Thank you to everyone at the club for making us feel at home. A special thanks to all the fans that made these years unforgettable. Besides the 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."

United have not commented on reports of a third bid for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, or that a fee has been agreed with Lille for their highly-rated defender Leny Yoro, but are understood to be exploring various options at centre-back.