Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea has ended his one-season absence from football by signing a one-year contract with Fiorentina, which includes an option for an additional season. After much speculation linking him to a move to Serie A side Genoa, De Gea has opted to join the Florence club, marking his first foray into Italian football.
The former Manchester United star has been a free agent since leaving the Premier League club at the end of the 2022/23 season. During his 12 years at Old Trafford, De Gea made 545 appearances, winning multiple trophies including a Premier League title, the Europa League, an FA Cup, and two League Cups. He ranks seventh in United’s all-time appearance list and shares the record for the most Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year awards with Cristiano Ronaldo, having won it four times.
De Gea, 33, has been actively preparing for his return to professional play, frequently posting training updates on social media. Last month, he teased fans with a cryptic hourglass emoji on X (formerly Twitter), hinting at an impending transfer. This was followed by a purple heart emoji, signaling his move to Fiorentina, known for their purple team colors.
Fiorentina confirmed the deal after De Gea successfully passed a medical on Friday. He will join new head coach Raffaele Palladino at the Stadio Artemio Franchi as he embarks on this new chapter of his career. De Gea’s arrival is expected to bolster Fiorentina’s squad ahead of the upcoming Serie A season.
Prior to his tenure at Manchester United, De Gea began his career at Atletico Madrid, where he made 84 appearances and won both the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup. He has also enjoyed success with Spain’s youth teams, winning the Under-17 European Championship in 2007 and two Under-21 European titles in 2011 and 2013.
