With the 2025/26 season now finished, Manchester United have announced their retained and released players.

This summer will see the exit of seven players, 6 of which have been released by the club as their contracts have come to an end.

9

Rasmus Højlund

The only player in this list who wasn’t released – Rasmus Højlund has joined Napoli on a permanent basis due to a clause in his loan contract. It became mandatory for Italian side to buy the striker as they qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The Dane wore number 11 in his debut season, and then switched to number 9 for the 2024/25 season. The number has remained vacant whilst he’s been out on loan this season, but it’s likely to stay that way next season.

12

Tyrell Malacia

The Dutch left back has worn number 12 for United since his arrival ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Malacia spent the second half of the 2024/25 season out on loan at PSV, however his squad number was not delegated to any other player during that time, and he returned to the club to wear it once again.

18

Casemiro

A fan favourite during his stint with Manchester United, the serial winner wore number 18 since he joined in the summer of 2022.

When asked why he picked the number 18 upon joining the Red Devils, he gave a simple answer:

“I believe there were one or two different numbers available, and the number that I liked the most was the 18. So that was one of the reasons for me to choose that one.”

25, sort of

Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho departs United after several loan spells over the past couple of years.

He doesn’t technically vacate a number, as the number 25 he previously wore was allocated to Manuel Ugarte when he joined in 2024, but it is the last number he wore for United and worthy of a mention.

46

Sonny Aljofree

The young English centre back has worked his way through the United academy and will depart the club this summer.

As is now customary for youth players at the club, most typically change numbers each year to represent their age group. He was first handed a senior squad number for the 2021/22 season – he donned the number 85. In the subsequent seasons, he switched to 76, 69, 60, and 46 respectively. It is the latter that he departs the club vacating.

57

Malachi Sharpe

Another youngster who has made his way through the United ranks, Malachi Sharpe is vacating the number 57.

His first senior squad number was also handed to him for the 2021/22 season – he was given the number 92. The Scottish winger was then handed a new number for each season thereafter, wearing 91, 83, 74, and then 57 which he vacates.

74

James Bailey

The English midfielder was handed his first senior squad number ahead of the 2024/25 season – he wore number 89. As with most academy players, he switched to a lower number the following season to represent his age group, and was given the number 74 – it’s this number that he departs the club having last worn.