Manchester United's goalkeeping changes are moving quickly, with Karl Darlow set to arrive on a free transfer after leaving Leeds when his contract expired. Fabrizio Romano says the deal is done and that signature is due on Friday. The 35-year-old is being moved in as back-up to Senne Lammens, while Altay Bayindir's exit now looks like the next step.

Darlow's profile fits the job

Darlow is not coming in as a long-term headline signing. He is arriving as cover, and the age and experience fit that brief. Last season he made 22 Premier League starts for Leeds and kept five clean sheets across those top-flight matches. His last five Premier League appearances carried a 7.1 average rating, which at least suggests he is not arriving cold.

For United, the appeal is obvious enough. The club need a goalkeeper group that can be reshaped quickly, and Darlow gives them a senior option without a transfer fee attached. Fabrizio Romano also said: "Bayindir expected to leave — story after @lauriewhitwell."

Bayindir's exit and United's wider rebuild

The broader picture around United's goalkeepers is already changing. Andre Onana has returned to Trabzonspor on loan, Bayindir is expected to complete a permanent move back to Turkey, and Radek Vitek will also depart after his loan spell at Bristol City.

There is another layer to the same story, because United are still pushing on other deals too. The club have agreed a £50million deal for Andrey Santos and a £35million fee with a further £3.8million in add-ons for Ederson. The Ederson medical is still in progress, so that move is not over the line yet.

Romano's line on Darlow points to a straightforward read of United's plan: add an experienced backup, move out the keepers who are no longer part of the long-term setup, and keep the rest of the transfer work moving. Bayindir's exit is still described as expected, not completed, but the direction is clear enough as United wait for Friday's signature on Darlow's deal.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →