Eric Bailly leaves United to join Besiktas, The 29-year-old defender has made 113 appearances.
The Community Shield was won by Bailly on his United debut in a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Wembley, where he was also named Player of the Match. Bailly was the first player signed by former United manager Jose Mourinho.
Later that season he won an EFL Cup winner’s medal as part of the starting XI that beat Southampton 3-2 at Wembley.
He was a member of the starting lineup that defeated Southampton 3-2 at Wembley later that season, earning an EFL Cup winner’s medal.
He was part of the success of the club during the 2016–17 Europa League campaign, even though he was suspended for the decisive victory over Ajax in Stockholm. UEFA selected Bailly for the Europa League Team of the Season in recognition of his “dominant defensive play.”
Early in the next season, in August 2017, in a 4-0 away victory at Swansea City, Bailly scored his only goal for United.
Injuries and competition for positions with other center defenders including Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, and Marcos Rojo, as well as subsequently Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Raphael Varane, limited his opportunities in the following seasons.
He will be greatly missed.
