It appears as though ex-Manchester United goalkeeper and club legend David de Gea has finally found a new club after more than a year since he departed from Old Trafford.
The Spanish keeper, who was the Red Devils’ number one for 12 years, left Manchester back in July 2023 and had been without a team for more than 15 months, but it looks like his lengthy absence from football has finally now come to an end.
According to multiple sources, de Gea has reached an agreement to sign for Italian club Fiorentina on a one-year deal this week and is set to earn approximately £2.5 million per season.
The former Man United star arrived around lunchtime in Florence today (Friday, 9 August) for his medical ahead of signing the contract which is said to include an option for a further year.
Undeniably one of the best shot-stoppers on the planet at his peak, the 33-year-old’s latter days at United may have been less assured than in his heyday, but he still remains highly revered among many fans and the so-called goalkeepers’ union, with the fourth-most clean sheets in Premier League history.
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The former Atlético de Madrid man – who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for a then-British record fee of £17million at the age of just 21 – went on to surpass Alex Stepney to make the most appearances of any keeper at the club (545), win two golden gloves and earn the Player of the Season award four times.
Despite being out of action professionally, De Gea was most recently seen training at a national team facility back in his home country after posting a video along with the caption, “Ready to rock”.
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Prior to that, he had made appearances at Man United Women’s games at Leigh Sports Village and was seen training at the nearby J Davidson Stadium: the home ground of fast-growing local side Altrincham FC, which is located near his former home in Chesire.
But now it looks as though the gloved veteran will soon be swapping practice in non-league surroundings for a role back between the sticks for the Serie A side who many have dubbed a ‘sleeping giant’, with two league titles, six Coppa Italia trophies and a number of other accolades to their name.
‘La Viola’ haven’t won any silverware in over two decades and having cycled through a variety of keepers in the past few seasons, they will be hoping to establish a consistent number one.
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Moreover, if de Gea can rediscover the form that saw him courted by Real Madrid for several years during his tenure at United, the free agent could prove to be an astute bit of business and potentially key in helping their league favour and chances in other competitions.
Once again taking part in the UEFA Conference League and only narrowly missing out on a seventh Italian cup at the hands of an Inter Milan double in 2023/24, could de Gea icon be the difference for a resurgent Fiorentina?
And what about you, Reds – do you prefer life with André Onana or do you miss the days of ‘Dave Saves’?
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
9th August 2024 
