OFFICIAL: Man Utd flop completes shock transfer

Carlo Garganese

• 18 Sept 2024 09:45 BST
• 3 min read

AEK Athens have comfirmed the shock signing of ex-Manchester United flop Anthony Martial.

The Greek club announced on Wednesday morning that they have officially signed the France attacker on a free transfer.

He will arrive in Greece on Wednesday evening at Athens International Airport where he will be greeted by fans.

The 28-year-old has signed a three-year deal until 2027 worth around €3m per year.

This contract is the richest and most lucrative in the history of the Greek club, beating the current record held by Erik Lamela, who earns €2m a season.

READ MORE: Premier League top scorers 2024/25

Martial was a free agent after his Man Utd contract expired on July 1.

He had been linked with a host of clubs since then, including joining his former Man Utd teammate Raphael Varane at Como. He had also been linked with a transfer back to Ligue 1 with Lille, but that idea was shot down by the club’s president.

And then negotiations with Brazilian club Flamengo collapsed.

A move to AEK Athens comes as a surprise given that Martial is still in the peak of his career at the age of 28.

AEK Athens are currently top in the Greek Super League after four matches played this season. They finished second last term, just one point behind champions PAOK.

Martial at Man Utd

Martial joined Manchester United in 2015 as the world’s most expensive teenager but despite some bright spells never truly fulfilled his potential.

His last few years in particular were a disaster at Old Trafford.

He scored just 12 Premier League goals in his last four seasons, while he only scored two goals in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign.

In total he has scored 90 goals in 317 games for the club in nine seasons at Man Utd. He only turned 28 in December.

Martial won five trophies at United, all of them considered rather minor titles. These are the 2016 and 2024 FA Cup, 2017 League Cup, 2016 Community Shield and 2017 Europa League.