Manchester United winger Sam Mather has bid farewell to the club after 14 years, sharing his heartfelt departure on social media. The 21-year-old received enthusiastic support from his teammates following the announcement.
Mather will join Turkish side Kayserispor for an undisclosed transfer fee. The move comes just months after a summer move to the same club fell through at the last minute. Although he did not make any first-team appearances for United, Mather spent time on loan at Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers, and was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side in 2022.
Mother expressed his gratitude in an Instagram post filled with nostalgic photos from his time at the club.
He wrote: “My time with @manutd of 14 years has come to an end and I would like to thank all the staff and players who have helped me become the person and player I am today.
“I will always be grateful for my time here and wish the club every success. On a personal level, it’s time for me to move on and I can’t wait to get started.”
Despite having 18 months remaining on his contract, the young winger is keen to take on the challenge of a professional career and has chosen to leave his childhood club for a new adventure.
After failing to secure a transfer in the summer, Mather has been taking part in first-team training sessions at Carrington this season. The young player has played six academy games to maintain match fitness.
Shay Lacey, the latest academy graduate to make his first-team debut, was among those wishing the winger well.
The 18-year-old commented: “I wish my brother all the best.”
Chido Obi-Martin, Toby Collier, Harry Amas and former academy graduate Shola Shoretire were among those who left comments.
Mather has attracted interest from Turkey, Germany and Greece ahead of the January transfer window, while other sources suggest there are also potential suitors from MLS.
As part of the move to Türkiye, a fee and buy-back clause have been agreed and included in the contract.
Kayserispor currently sit in 16th place in the Turkish Super Lig on goal difference, placing them in the relegation zone. One of Mother’s first games could be against Turkish powerhouse Besiktas on January 19th.
Although Mather will be one of the few foreign players in the team, he will not be the only English player in the area.
Former Chelsea ace Tammy Abraham is Besiktas’ main striker, while Dan Adjei and Archie Brown currently play for Kocalyspor and Fenerbahce respectively.
