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Manchester United have announced the acquisition of experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer after his contract with Leeds United came to an end.
"I am incredibly proud to be signing for Manchester United," the 35-year-old told the club's media team. "I'm joining a fantastic group of goalkeepers and I'm genuinely excited about all of us pushing one another to uphold the high standards that this club expects.
"This is a truly special opportunity; everyone can see what a thrilling period this is for the club and I can't wait to play my part in supporting my teammates and helping to drive the group forward."
Darlow's arrival is just one element of a broader transformation at Old Trafford this summer, with newly appointed permanent manager Michael Carrick overseeing the latest phase of a squad overhaul.
Why Have Man Utd Signed Karl Darlow?
On the surface, United's pursuit of Darlow might seem unexpected. He featured inconsistently in the Leeds starting lineup last season, recording five clean sheets across 22 appearances as the Yorkshire club narrowly avoided Premier League relegation.
Crucially, though, United have not brought Darlow in as a new number one, but rather as a deputy to current first-choice Senne Lammens, who continues to hold Carrick's confidence despite a costly mistake in the World Cup quarterfinals with Belgium.
"Karl has demonstrated his ability to perform at the top level, and his work ethic and determined character make him a very strong addition to our squad," director of football Jason Wilcox commented.
"We are thrilled to bring a player of his calibre and experience into our already impressive goalkeeping group."
Karl Darlow's 2025–26 Premier League Statistics
*Stats provided by FotMob
Darlow becomes the fourth senior goalkeeper in Carrick's squad, excluding André Onana who has rejoined Trabzonspor on loan. It is clear that one player will need to depart, and that is widely expected to be Turkish international Altay Bayındır.
There was considerable surprise back in 2023 when Bayındır left a starting position at Fenerbahçe to accept a backup role at United. Still just 28 years old, he has made only 17 appearances across three seasons, and the limited playing time is now understood to have led all parties to agree that a move away is the right course of action.
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With Darlow now joining fellow veteran Tom Heaton in a deep goalkeeping pool, Bayındır is free to follow Onana out the exit door, completing a full reset of the position from Erik ten Hag's era at the helm.
A return to Türkiye is anticipated for Bayındır, who earned strong praise during his spell at Fenerbahçe and will be eager to revive a career that has undeniably lost momentum since his bold move to Old Trafford three years ago.