Altay Bayındır is heading towards a season-long loan to Celta Vigo, with a €4m buy option that can change depending on appearances. Fabrizio Romano said the move is done, and that Bayındır has been authorised to travel for medical checks and contract signing. For Manchester United, it is another sign that the goalkeeper group is being trimmed and reset.

United's goalkeeper shuffle

The Bayındır deal sits inside a wider reshuffle at Old Trafford. United have signed Karl Darlow on a free transfer and Tom Heaton is staying as third-choice goalkeeper. Bayındır now looks like the next out of the door, with the club moving quickly to settle the depth chart behind the first choice.

The numbers help explain why this feels like a clean exit rather than a drawn-out standoff. Bayındır has only 1 recorded appearance this season and just 23 minutes in total. His lone outing carries a 6.0 rating, which is not much of a platform for making a serious case to stay in the picture.

United's form also gives the move a slightly different edge. They have won 4 of their last 5 league matches, so this is not happening in the middle of panic buying and selling. The club were 3rd in the 2025 Premier League season, yet they are currently listed 16th, which shows how much of the squad still needs sorting.

More exits may follow

Bayındır may not be the last goalkeeper to leave. Radek Vitek is also set to move to Middlesbrough on a permanent deal, with reports split on the final value. Romano has described it as a £7m fee plus add-ons up to a potential £14m package, while another account has put the deal at £14m inclusive of add-ons. Romano also said United would keep a 35% sell-on clause and a buy-back option.

There is also Andre Onana, who has already been moved out on loan to Trabzonspor. Put together, the exits point to a clear summer pattern, with United making room in the goalkeeper group rather than leaving bodies in place for the sake of it.

Bayındır's next step is the most immediate one. The travel permission is in place, the loan terms are agreed, and Celta Vigo are waiting for the medical and signing.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →