Manchester United have confirmed the release of seven players after revealing their retained list for the 2024-25 season.
There is still doubt going into this summer at Old Trafford, with manager Erik ten Hag‘s future yet to be revealed.
But there was no doubt over several players who were expected to leave due to their expiring contracts at Old Trafford.
It had already been announced that former Real Madrid star Raphael Varane and his French compatriot Anthony Martial would be leaving the club.
They have been joined by five other players, with other notable names including Brandon Williams and Under-21 player-coach Tom Huddlestone.
Raphael Varane is one of seven Manchester United players who will leave at the end of their contracts
Anthony Martial also leaves the club following a nine-year stint at Old Trafford
Brandon Williams (left) leaves the club who he made 51 appearances for during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as manager
Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United is still yet to be revealed despite their FA Cup win
The club also confirmed that Charlie McNeill, Marcus Lawrence and Kie Plumley will exit the club at the end of their current contracts.
Four players meanwhile are still in contract talks to renew their expiring deals, including veterans Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton.
United are also keen to extend Shola Shoretire’s stay at the club, as well as Omari Forson – though Mail Sport have reported that the latter has rejected their latest offer.
Varane leaves the club three years after he joined the club from Real Madrid, after he also left Los Blancos as a free agent.
He formed an excellent partnership with Lisandro Martinez in 2022-23, but the most recent campaign was a mixed one for the 31-year-old.
Varane struggled for form and fitness, and at times had dropped behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in the pecking order.
However, he was formidable at the back as United pulled off an upset over Man City in the FA Cup final.
Martial meanwhile burst onto the scene at United back in 2015, with a stunning goal against Liverpool following his move from Monaco.
Omari Forson is not part of the seven but his future is up in the air after he turned down their latest deal
Veterans Tom Heaton (left) and Jonny Evans (right) are still in contract discussions
However, he failed to live up to his potential, and struggled to become a regular at Old Trafford over the past four years. He made 317 appearances for the club in total.
He had been expected to leave after a loan stint to Sevilla in the 2021-22 season, but stayed with the Red Devils for another two seasons.
Williams made 51 appearances for United during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Old Trafford, though he has been sent out on loan to Norwich and promoted Ipswich over the last two seasons. A return to Ipswich could be possible after making 17 appearances for them last season.
Losing Forson would be a blow for the Red Devils. In January, the youngster became the 249th academy graduate to break into the first team when he came off the bench in the FA Cup away at Wigan Athletic.
He then went on to win his first Premier League start in a defeat against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Back in November United were confident they would be able to agree terms with Forson and his representatives having shown him a future as part of the first team.
However, those attempts have proven to be fruitless so far.
