Manchester United have confirmed the sale of Zidane Iqbal to FC Utrecht.
The Iraq midfielder, 20, departs Old Trafford after 11 years and graduating through the club’s academy system, signing a four-year contract in the Eredivisie for an undisclosed fee believed to be approximately £850,000.
But while Iqbal’s departure is on a permanent deal, he may not be gone from United for good, with ESPN reporting that the sale includes a buy-back clause in addition to a hefty 40 per cent sell-on.
Iqbal is understood to have passed a medical in the Netherlands earlier this week ahead of joining an Utrecht side who finished seventh in the Dutch top-flight last term under Danish boss Michael Silberbauer.
He leaves United having made one solitary senior appearance for the club, in a Champions League tie against Swiss outfit Young Boys back in 2021. He has also earned three senior international caps for Iraq to date.
"From The Cliff to Carrington and then to the Theatre Of Dreams (OT), I have so many incredible memories of my 15 years associated with this amazing club," Iqbal posted on Instagram this week.
"I have had the opportunity to play with so many team-mates, that I will now always call friends, and worked with coaches who always supported me in so many different ways.
“There are too many people to thank. Kitmen, physios, teachers, chefs, nutritionists, security staff, coaches and everyone else in between, they’ve all played their role in making me the player that I am today.
LIVE BLOG: Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours
"They know who they are and know how much they mean to me and my family. We’ll be forever grateful.
"The time is right to go and take on a new challenge," he said. "It is one that I cannot wait for and I’ll be applying myself with the same level of desire, determination and dedication that has taken me this far in my career."
