Here, we run through 30 of the biggest exits and/or saddest farewells, starting with the biggest of the lot and then rewinding back to a handful of huge departures leading up to United’s relegation from the Premier League the first time around back in 2004.
Some hardly left in the best of circumstances and left a more bitter taste than others upon their exits. But those included in our list were either seriously talented players or huge favourites and often both.
Leeds are now heading back to the Championship again having finished second-bottom in the 2022-23 campaign meaning relegation along with Southampton and Leicester City.
Leeds are now heading back to the Championship again having finished second-bottom in the 2022-23 campaign meaning relegation along with Southampton and Leicester City.
![Sold to Liverpool in July 2003.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhjMDEzNzhmLTUwZGQtNGM0OC1hNjQyLTE4MDQwMTU3YzVhMTozNWI2NTBiMy1iN2YyLTRhOTYtYmEwNC0zNmE4ZjI3NmM1OGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Sold to Roma in July 2003.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4NjZlZDI4LTFmZjQtNDM2NC05Nzg3LWQ4Zjc1NWIwNzNjOTozMmUxMzkzMi05YTBmLTRiMDMtYWYxMi0wNzEwM2RhNTQyZDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Sold to Newcastle United in July 2004.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJhMDVlNDU2LWRlZjQtNGJhNy1iMGRjLTFkNzBmZTBlODkxYjpjNmZiYzg4NC02ZWE4LTRkOTUtYjg1YS1kZjAwOGM3N2U3MzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Sold to Manchester United in May 2004.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM5OGNkNDA4LTU3ZDEtNDVhYS1iMWUxLWQ5MGMwOTZlZWI1ZTplYzBlMTgwZi04MjNhLTRjMjItYjg5NS01MmMwNWU5MzQ3NTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Sold to Tottenham Hotspur in May 2004.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFhMmVjNzVlLTc4MmUtNGNjMi1iNDk3LWY5ZjY5NTBlNTJlNDpiZmUwZTAwOC03MjI4LTRmYmUtOTkxZS1hMjgyNGYyZjA1YWY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
![Sold to Middlesbrough in July 2004.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJjMGZmNGYyLWVmMTMtNDIzMS04MzgyLWFhNTZjOWRmN2UxOToyNjA1MTdiMi1iODRmLTQ2MDEtYjkzNS0yZWExYmYzMjQzMjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)