Man Utd announce 10th January departure as new contract confirmed

Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek has signed a new contract at Manchester United and has been sent on loan to Accrington Stanley for the remainder of the season.

The Czech stopper is the 10th player to leave United this January and the ninth to exit on loan.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, the Red Devils said: "The 20-year-old has finalised fresh terms with the Reds that will run until June 2027.

"Following the signing of his new contract, Vitek has secured a loan switch to League Two side, Accrington Stanley. Everyone at United would like to wish Radek the very best of luck for his loan spell."

Vitek has made just two youth-team appearances this season but has made named on the bench for Erik ten Hag's senior squad on three occasions, and has worked closely with the first-team goalkeepers at Carrington.

The Czech youth international will hope to bring that experience to Accrington in the second half of the campaign, with the Lancashire side just five points off the play-offs.

"Radek is someone who we monitored in the summer, he actually played for us in a friendly, but it just wasn't possible to bring him in in the summer," manager John Coleman told Accrington's website.

"He's a good goalkeeper, he's decent with his feet, he can command his area, and ultimately, goalkeepers are judged on keeping the ball out of the net, so hopefully he'll do that for us."

Vitek follows the departures of Rhys Bennett, Alvaro Fernandez, Maxi Oyedele, Dan Gore, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal, Jadon Sancho and Joe Hugill on loan this window, while Mateo Mejia has joined Sevilla in a permanent switch. No major incomings are expecting at United this month, but it's likely Facundo Pellistri will increase the number of departures to 11 when he joins Grenada on loan.