Adnan Januzaj has left Manchester United to join Real Sociedad for a reported initial fee of £8, rising to £9.8.
Good luck to @AdnanJanuzaj, who has left #MUFC to join Real Sociedad. pic.twitter.com/K2SSIXj9e8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 12, 2017
The Belgian signed a five year deal but the Reds retain the first option to buy him back in the future if Sociedad decide to sell him.
On a posting on Twitter Januzaj thanked the fans and United, saying:
I will always have love for @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/mCdC2giPsF
— Adnan Januzaj (@adnanjanuzaj) July 12, 2017
“I’ve had some incredible moments with Manchester United since I joined. I want to say a massive thank you to all my teammates that have come and gone from the club.
“It’s been a pleasure to play with you all. Thank you to some of the coaches and staff that work at Manchester United to make it such a great club!
“Unfortunately my time at the club has come to an end and it didn’t go the way I wanted it to go but I will always have love for Manchester United.
“And finally, a huge thank you to the fans that have stuck by me through the good and bad times! I will never forget that positive support. Thank you.”
Once seen as the great United hope at left wing, Januzaj made an an impressive start in his first few weeks during the 2013/14 season under then-United manager David Moyes, scoring twice as United came back from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland on October 5, 2013 – going on to score 4 goals in all that season and signing a new deal.
His playing time reduced under Louis Van Gaal in the 2014/15 season, at the same time as his goals dried up and a subsequent loan spell at Borussia Dortmund the following season saw him only used sparingly.
After the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, Januzaj was loaned to Sunderland last season – linking up with his former manager Moyes but he only scored once, in the EFL Cup, and couldn’t prevent the Black Cats from being relegated.
Ironically, Januzaj joins Moyes’ former club, Sociedad, and will look to kick start his career which had stalled after such a promising start.