Phil Jones to leave Manchester United this summer

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Injury-plagued defender Phil Jones will leave Manchester United when his contract expires this summer, the English Premier League side announced on Friday.

His final appearance for United came in a 3-0 win over Brentford at the end of last season, and was sidelined due to injury during this campaign.

The 31-year-old has managed only 13 appearances since the start of the 2019-20 season because of chronic knee trouble.

"Our no.4 is now taking some time before deciding his next move and everybody at United would like to wish Phil the very best of luck for the future," the club said.

The central defender joined United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 from Blackburn. He represented England 27 times and made 229 appearances for the Reds and scored six goals.

"I wish I could have played more. I wish I could have given more to the many squads I played amongst. I will say, from the bottom of my heart, I did everything I could," Jones wrote in an emotional open letter to fans.