Manchester United have confirmed that midfielder Donny van de Beek has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the remainder of the season. The 26-year-old Netherlands international's move, announced on New Year's Day, includes an option for the Bundesliga side to make the transfer permanent at the end of the campaign.
Van de Beek's departure marks the end of a difficult three-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford since his £40million move from Ajax in September 2020. He made just four Premier League starts for United, with his last coming in May 2021. This season, he has played only 21 minutes of first-team football and was an unused substitute in the club's previous eight league matches.
This is Van de Beek's second loan spell away from United, following a brief stint at Everton in 2022 where he made seven appearances. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche expressed enthusiasm about the signing, stating: 'Donny van de Beek fits our game idea perfectly and is an important piece of the puzzle for our team. He brings a wealth of international experience that our young players will benefit from.'
Van de Beek will wear the No.25 shirt at Frankfurt, who are currently sixth in the Bundesliga and have qualified for the Europa Conference League knockout stages. The midfielder, who has made 62 appearances and scored twice for United, will aim to revive his career and earn a place in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.
In a November interview, Van de Beek expressed his desire for regular football: 'I am bouncing to play matches again. I need to start playing games very soon - if not at Man United then at another club.' Manchester United wished him well in a statement, saying: 'Everyone at Manchester United wishes Donny all the best in Frankfurt for the rest of the season.'
