Marouane Fellaini: Manchester United agree deal with Shandong Luneng for Belgium midfielder

Farewell Marouane Fellaini.

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng over the transfer of midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

It is understood the Belgium player has already passed his medical and the transfer is close to being completed.

Fellaini, 31, joined United from Everton for £27m in 2014 when he became the first significant signing after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure as manager.

He signed a new two-year deal last summer that was due to run until 2020.

However, Fellaini has managed just three minutes of Premier League action in seven top-flight games under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Having been signed by his former Everton boss David Moyes after making 141 Premier League appearances, where he scored 25 goals and had 14 assists, Fellaini also played under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho at United, scoring 22 goals in 177 appearances in all competitions.

Fellaini helped United win the 2016 FA Cup final as well as the Europa League and League Cup in 2017.

‘A new era?’: Analysis – Simon Stone

This really feels like paving the way for a new era at Manchester United.

Fellaini was the first significant signing of the post Sir Alex Ferguson-era and for some supporters has come to symbolise the problems United have had since the Scot’s exit in 2013.

Six months ago, United were in the position of haggling over a new deal for Fellaini, who had allowed his contract to run out.

The two-year deal they eventually agreed is only a quarter way through but already the club are taking a hit on the £27m they paid Everton for him, to allow him to move to China.

It very much feels as though Jose Mourinho is being pinpointed as the man who wanted Fellaini around, when many fans were happy to say goodbye.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer evidently is not worried about losing Fellaini as he has Scott McTominay as a back-up midfielder instead, and the obvious conclusion is that United’s hierarchy do not believe the person who eventually replaces Mourinho on a full-time basis will be bothered either.

Your reactions

We asked on our BBC Sport social media accounts whether fans were sad to see Fellaini go?

Jules: Good. Never really rated him. Panic purchase by Moyes.

Sani: Thank you Fella! Wish you best of luck out there. Won’t mock him like others coz he truly played for the jersey on some crucial stages.

Charlie: Honestly never been his fault, but just ain’t a Man United player.

Josh: Sad to see him go? You trolling?

Jack: Whatever people say he got the job done and scored some very important goals

Andrew: Gave 100% every time he played. Played where ever he was asked to play. Never moaned or cried to his agent. But he’s never fitted the United style. All the best to him.

Craig: Scored some important goals for the club, but was never really good enough to be there. Glad to see him leave, good luck to him in China. – bbc.com