Man United player confirms summer exit with farewell message after Newcastle United transfer links
Manchester United’s defender, Phil Jones, is expected to seek a new team this summer as his long-standing association of 12 years with Old Trafford is reaching its conclusion.
After joining Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 for a transfer fee of £16.5 million, Phil Jones, who is currently 31 years old, amassed 229 appearances for the club and scored six goals. Throughout his tenure at Old Trafford, he secured notable achievements such as winning the Premier League title, an FA Cup, and the Europa League.
Unfortunately, Jones was unable to make any appearances in the 2022-23 season due to a knee injury. Consequently, he was not awarded a Carabao Cup winners medal when Manchester United emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in February.
Recently, Phil Jones declined a testimonial offer from Manchester United and will consequently depart from the club when his contract expires next month. Over the past four seasons, the defender has only managed to make six appearances in the Premier League, indicating a significant decrease in his playing time.
In light of his impending departure, Phil Jones broke his social media silence and shared a message addressed to the fans as a way to commemorate his exit from the club.
It read: “My time at United has been nothing short of incredible. To wear this shirt just once, to wear this badge and represent everyone associated with it, was an honour.
“I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played alongside. I will say from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could. I did everything the medical team asked of me.”
Thank you @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/HtB9koypkt
— Phil Jones (@PhilJones4) May 19, 2023
With Phil Jones’ departure, the Manchester United squad will now have only one remaining player, David De Gea, who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson during his tenure as the club’s manager.
Expressing his thoughts on leaving, the 27-time England international stated, : “I lived a dream at the biggest club in the world. I played for England in major tournaments. At United, I won trophies, most notably the Premier League under Sir Alex, in his final season.
“I wish Erik [ten Hag] and his staff, and all the players, the best of luck for the future. He’s building something here and I’ll be watching, supporting and hoping, more than anyone, that he can continue the progress we can all see already.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me at Manchester United, where I’ve made friends for life.”
Letter to the fans. pic.twitter.com/fmNV1eR9np
— Phil Jones (@PhilJones4) May 19, 2023
While Phil Jones has not made a final decision regarding his next club, there have been persistent rumors linking him to Newcastle United in recent years.
The Magpies have shown interest in the defender, and reports even indicated their interest as recently as last summer. However, despite the speculation, a transfer deal between Jones and Newcastle has never come to fruition.
Man United player confirms summer exit with farewell message after Newcastle United transfer links
