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Manchester Evening News

Manchester United defender posts emotional farewell message as departure confirmed

Man United announced their retained list on Monday and the departures of a few youngsters were confirmed.

James Nolan (pictured centre) has left United. (Image: 2023 Manchester United FC)

James Nolan has said a "massive thank you" to Manchester United after leaving the club.

The Manchester Evening News reported at the beginning of last month that three youngsters, Nolan, Jack Kingdon and Sam Murray, were set to be allowed to leave on free transfers.


United published their retained list on Monday and those departures were made official.


Nolan spent last season on loan with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scottish League One - where he made 33 appearances - and he will now look for a new club for his next chapter.

Writing on Instagram, Nolan said: "My time at Manchester United has now come to an end.

"From joining at the age of seven to now leaving at 19 it has been my second home. I just want to say a massive thank you to the coaches, players and everyone at the club for making my time unforgettable. I’ve made memories to last a life time. Once a Red always a Red."

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Nolan is a versatile player and predominantly played at full-back for Caledonian Thistle.

Kingdon wrote a similar message on social media, saying: "The experiences this club has given me I will always be grateful for. The lads, staff and fans have been outstanding with me whilst I've been here.

"Manchester United will always have a place in my heart, but it is time for the next chapter. Thank you, Reds."


Kingdon was a crucial part of the Under-18 treble-winning side in 2023/2024, and the defender was excellent on loan with Rochdale after signing for the club in the winter window.

It's understood Kingdon was close to signing for Ineos-owned FC Lausanne Sport on loan in January before signing for Rochdale, who he helped to reach the National League play-offs.

Academy goalkeepers Tom Myles and Tom Wooster have also been released this summer.


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