MANCHESTER UNITED CAPTAIN KATIE ZELEM LEAVES THE CLUB ON A FREE TRANSFER... AS THE CLUB'S EXODUS CONTINUES FOLLOWING MARY EARPS AND LUCIA GARCIA'S DEPARTURES
- Katie Zelem departed Man United on a free transfer after her contract expired
- The 28-year-old made 161 appearances in all competitions for United since 2018
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Manchester United have announced club captain Katie Zelem has departed the club after her contract expired.
The 28-year-old's exit marks the latest departure for the Women's Super League side after England goalkeeper Mary Earps and Spain international Lucia Garcia left the club earlier this week.
In a post on social media, the club paid tribute to Zelem, calling the England international a 'legend'.
'From our inception, to our first major trophy and everything in-between. She’s been with us through it all.
'Today we bid farewell to a legend. Katie Zelem, she’s one of our own.'
Zelem began her career at the Manchester United Girls' Centre of Excellence spending over a decade there after joining aged eight.
A lack of a professional setup at United forced Zelem to look elsewhere however, and the midfielder began her senior career with Liverpool, twice winning the WSL on Merseyside before joining Juventus in 2017.
After just a single season in Italy, Zelem returned to United in their inaugural campaign and starred as they secured promotion to the WSL.
Zelem's final appearance at the club came in May as she captained the club to their first major trophy - a 4-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley to cinch the Women's FA Cup.
The midfielder has also won 12 senior England caps and was part of Sarnia Wiegman's side that reached the final of the World Cup in 2023.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group assumed control of footballing operations at United earlier this year, but have already made a number of decisions regarding the women's team that have proven divisive among supporters.
Earlier this month Ratcliffe admitted in an interview that his team have yet to set out their plans for the women's team in detail.
When asked whether the plans were still ‘TBC’, the 71-year-old replied: ‘Correct.’
Marc Skinner's side will also be forced to utilise portable buildings next season, with the men's team moved into their regular training base throughout the ongoing updates to Carrington.
While this won't be a permanent move, it is expected that the men's team will have priority access to the women's facility whenever their schedules cross over.
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