Manchester United confirm striker's exit as contract chaos continues

Manchester United striker Lucia Garcia will leave the club when her contract expires at the end of this month.

The Spain international joined United from Athletic Bilbao in 2022 and has scored 16 goals in 60 appearances during her time at Leigh Sports Village. She scored twice in the FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur to help the Reds secure their first major women's trophy at Wembley in May.

The 25-year-old is expected to join Mexican champions Monterrey this summer. Reflecting on her time in Manchester, Garcia told club media: "For me, it has been two incredible seasons. I was so happy to have been a part of this team and to have helped the team. We are like a family.

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"I am going to miss every single piece of Manchester United. All my friends, all the team, all the staff, all the workers here. I think one of the hardest parts is to leave the fans. I feel the support they give to me. I can feel they love me and I love them.

"(When they chant my name) I just feel it in my heart like 'boom, boom, boom'. They give me the power to keep going, to keep fighting. But at the end of the day, I have to say goodbye. That's so hard for me, and the only thing I can say to you all is I love you (from) the bottom of my heart."

Garcia is one of a number of first-team players who are out of contract at United this summer, with goalkeeper Mary Earps expected to join French side Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. The futures of club captain Katie Zelem and forward Nikita Parris also remain uncertain.