David de Gea set to join new club by monday as ex-Manchester United star takes large pay cut to return to football after a year out

David de Gea has agreed to join Fiorentina, and he will play football again.

The Serie A team will sign the former Manchester United goalie on a one-year contract with the possibility of a one-season extension.

In addition, he will be joining the Italian team for a far lower salary than he had throughout his lengthy tenure in the Premier League.

According to reports, the 33-year-old is paid £375,000 a week at Old Trafford.

The veteran goalie’s contract expired in the summer of 2023, coinciding with his marriage to Edurne Garcia, and he was freed from Old Trafford.

That came after his negotiations with Manchester United broke down, ending his 12-year tenure there.

Despite rumours of a move to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, De Gea was without a club for the whole 2023–2024 campaign.

He was first acquired by Man United’s illustrious manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 from Atletico Madrid, and he went on to become the team’s starting striker after that.

After that, De Gea made 545 games for Manchester United, where he won two League Cups, the FA Cup, and the Premier League.

Andre Onana, who was formerly at Inter Milan before moving to Manchester last summer, has filled his goalkeeping position since his departure.

A few weeks ago, De Gea hinted at a potential comeback to football by posting an hourglass emoji on his X account.

Since going without a club, he has released a tonne of training videos.

This includes with Altrincham, a National League team in the northwest of England, which is close to his home.

Last season, Fiorentina placed ninth in the Italian top division and finished second in the Europa Conference League for the second year in a row.

When they defeated Parma to win the Coppa Italia in 2001, they last won a significant prize.