Manchester United confirm departure of two players as defender secures permanent transfer

Here are your morning Manchester United headlines for Saturday, 1 July.

Ethan Laird has secured a permanent transfer from Manchester United to Birmingham City on a three-year deal for a reported £750,000. The right-back made two senior appearances for the Reds' first team, both in the Europa League. He debuted against FC Astana in November 2019 before featuring as a substitute versus AZ Alkmaar the following month.

The 21-year-old then secured several loan spells to a number of EFL clubs including MK Dons, Swansea and Bournemouth, who were in the Championship at the time. Laird was a regular for Queens Park Rangers during his loan stay last season, playing 33 times of which 30 were starts.

He netted his first senior goal in August’s 3-1 win over Hull and went on to tally two assists. Prior to his loan move to Loftus Road, he chalked up three appearances in pre-season, racking up 148 minutes of action. His exit from United marks an 11-year association with the club having first joined aged 10.

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David de Gea remains on Manchester United’s website squad list despite the removal of all other players who are out of contract this summer.

Meanwhile, loanees Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst are still included although United tonight said in an update that both "are due to return to Bayern Munich and Burnley, respectively". United do not intend to make Burnley striker Weghorst’s move permanent while Sabitzer’s future is yet to be decided after ending the season with a knee injury.

De Gea becomes a free agent on Saturday after 12 years of service to United. The Reds are set to