Harry Maguire of Manchester United speaks with teammate Casemiro during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England.placeholder image
Harry Maguire of Manchester United speaks with teammate Casemiro during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. | Getty Images
Manchester United have five players in the final year of their respective contracts at the club
The 2025 summer transfer window for Manchester United saw several players depart the club as Ruben Amorim looks to build a squad suited to his tactical system.
The ex-Sporting CP boss left Portugal for Old Trafford last autumn as he was named as Erik ten Hag’s replacement at the Red Devils. Amorim has a pretty rigid formation he likes to play and the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu have been signed since his arrival to fit into the 3-5-2 shape he used to great effect with Sporting.
His approach means that several players have been deemed surplus to requirements at United. Antony and Alejandro Garnacho have left on permanent deals to Real Betis and Chelsea, respectively.
The likes of Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof were released at the end of the 2024-25 campaign while Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Rasmus Hojlund left the club on loan. Andre Onana has also departed on loan this week with the transfer window still open in the Turkish Super Lig.
Five players out of contract at Man Utd in 2026
As things stand, five players are poised to leave United at the end of this season as they enter the last years of their respective contracts at Old Trafford. Sancho has joined Villa on loan for the 2025-26 campaign and when he returns to United, he will be at the end of his deal with the Red Devils.
Left-back Tyrell Malacia has also only got one season left while Tom Heaton is at the club for one more season. He penned a new deal in late May as Amorim felt the player’s influence around the training ground was a positive one and something worth keeping around.
Will the five players remain at Old Trafford beyond this season?
Malacia and Sancho are both surplus to requirements at United, and are both highly likely to move on next summer when their deals run out. The club will be happy to finally get Sancho’s big wages off the books. Heaton will turn 40 in April and while he fills a homegrown spot and has been a reliable but unrequired third choice, the Red Devils will likely release him when his latest contract expires.
For Casemiro, his wage and age mean the Red Devils will be keen to move him on. He is Amorim’s current first-choice for the centre of midfielder alongside Bruno Fernandes. The Red Devils are looking to bolster their midfield options next summer and find a younger player who can make the midfield more dynamic.
Casemiro has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, which is likely the only place that will continue to meet his current wage demands.
For Maguire, United could opt to keep him around given his experience. He will be 33 next summer and if he can agree a new contract, it would likely be on reduced terms to reflect his place within the squad. He was a late substitute in the loss against Arsenal and the draw with Fulham and was left on the bench against Burnley as United won 3-2 ahead of the international break.
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