Manchester United are today finalising the departures of Altay Bayindir and Radek Vitek to Celta Vigo and Middlesbrough, respectively.
The latter is a permanent transfer worth up to £14 million including add-ons (£7m upfront), while Bayindir will join the Spanish club on loan for the campaign, after which a £3.7m buy option can be activated.
🚨🔴⚪️ GKs exits at Man United today as Bayindir joins Celta Vigo… and Radek Vitek joins Middlesbrough on permanent deal.
Green light for medical; £7m fee plus add-ons up to potential £14m package.#MUFC also mantain 35% sell-on clause and buy back for the GK. pic.twitter.com/I0ClUwjlO1
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2026
Radek Vitek green-lights Boro switch
Vitek leaves without ever making a senior appearance for United, despite being one of the most highly-rated goalkeeping prospects to come out of the academy in recent years.
He particularly impressed during his stint with Bristol City last term, where he was named their Player of the Season upon the culmination of his loan spell.
A quite frankly ridiculous save from Radek Vítek. 🤯 https://t.co/AjFbCKqhyv pic.twitter.com/sNHnTgDGjB
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) August 30, 2025
However, the 22-year-old is understandably keen on continuing to be a side’s No.1 between the sticks in 2026/2027, and that won’t be the case at Old Trafford.
Should he have stayed put, Vitek would’ve spent the year playing second fiddle to Senne Lammens, and could’ve even ranked behind new signing Karl Darlow due to the veteran’s experience in England.
Altay Bayindir in Spain awaiting Celta Vigo medical
As for Bayindir, he oversaw a brief stint as the first-choice ‘keeper at the beginning of 2025/2026 when Andre Onana, who re-joined Trabzonspor on loan earlier this summer, was demoted.
In the six Premier League matches he started in that period, the Turkish international conceded 11 goals and failed to keep a clean sheet.
His evident struggles prompted INEOS to enter the market just before the deadline to secure Lammens’ arrival from Royal Antwerp, and the Belgian was named Transfer of the Season after his maiden term as a Red.
Making an instant impact for his new club ❤️@ManUtd’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens is @BarclaysFooty Transfer of the Season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SG0Saqr6Gd
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 1, 2026
Bayindir has already travelled to Spain to undergo his medical. He is tied to United until June 2027, though the club have the option of extending his contract by an additional year to ensure they receive a fee from his exit.
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