“An honour to wear this shirt”: United defender sends farewell message after final appearance for club

Tyrell Malacia sent a farewell message to fans, staff and his teammates after making his final appearance for Manchester United during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Exit sealed United announced that Malacia will be leaving last week after the thrilling 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. The defender was an unused substitute, but head coach Michael Carrick still invited the fans to applaud him in his post-match speech at Old Trafford. Malacia joined United from Feyenoord in the summer of 2022, arriving as the first signing of the Erik ten Hag era. He enjoyed a very positive maiden season at United that saw him make 35 appearances across all competitions. But he was unable to build on it as he sustained a serious injury that necessitated multiple surgeries. He was sidelined for 17 months and only returned to action in November 2024. But he found playing time extremely hard to come by under Ruben Amorim. This prompted the club to loan him out to PSV Eindhoven for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign. He didn’t pull up any trees there and the Eredivisie outfit opted against keeping him permanently. United attempted to sell him last summer but a move did not materialise. The Dutchman came off the bench in the closing stages of the triumph against Brighton, in what was his final appearance for the Red Devils. Malacia’s message The 26-year-old took to X and posted a farewell message to United and everyone associated with the club. He wrote, “Grateful for every moment, every challenge and every memory.” “Thank you to the fans, my teammates, the staff and everyone at the club for the support throughout this journey. It’s been an honour to wear this shirt.” “Wishing the club all the best for the future.” Grateful for every moment, every challenge and every memory. ❤️ Thank you to the fans, my teammates, the staff and everyone at the club for the support throughout this journey. It’s been an honour to wear this shirt. Wishing the club all the best for the future. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/7nPAyXyM4V — Tyrell Malacia (@TyrellMalaciia) May 24, 2026 With the season over, United’s attention now shifts to the summer window. A left-back addition could be in the works, with the club expected to find a competitor for Luke Shaw. Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!