After a seven-year stint with Manchester United, Eric Bailly has bid farewell to the club, opting for a permanent transfer to Besiktas.
The Ivory Coast international initially joined the team in 2016 from Villarreal, marking the first signing made by former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.
Bailly played a crucial role in Manchester United’s successful 2016-17 season, contributing to their victories in the Community Shield, Carabao Cup, and Europa League.
During his seven-year tenure at Old Trafford, Bailly featured in 113 matches. Last season, he was loaned out to Marseille in Ligue 1, where he played in 23 matches across various competitions.
The decision to make this move came as Bailly found himself out of favour at Manchester United, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans ahead of him in the defensive pecking order.
After signing Bailly from United, Besiktas released a statement that read, “Welcome to Besiktas, Eric Bailly. Our club has reached an agreement with Manchester United for the final transfer of Ivorian defender Eric Bailly.
“We wish Eric Bailly, who we believe will provide important services to our club, great success with our glorious jersey, and present him to the public with our respect.”
Manchester United will return to action after the international break at home to Brighton in the Premier League.