Spanish keeper David de Gea says he is leaving Manchester United this summer, saying “it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge”.
The 32-year-old was a free agent as his contract at the Old Trafford club had come to an end last month.
De Gea has been at United for 12 years and played in 545 games.
“I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters,” he wrote in a social media post.
De Gea started his career at Atletico Madrid but joined United for £18.9 million in 2011.
He added: “I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love of 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 bestowed upon a few lucky footballers.
“It’s been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here. I didn’t think that by leaving Madrid as a young boy, we would achieve what we did together.
“Now is 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.”
