Timothy Fosu-Mensah says extensive talks with Bayer Leverkusen chiefs Simon Rolfes and Rudi Voller convinced him there were ‘great prospects’ at the club and persuaded him to complete a move away from Manchester United this January.
The 23-year-old struggled for minutes with the Red Devils after suffering a serious knee injury while on loan at Fulham back in April 2019 and made just nine appearances in all competitions over the last two seasons.
United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hoped to extend Fosu-Mensah’s stay, with his contract due to expire in the summer, but the versatile defender was keen for a fresh challenge and more regular game-time away from Old Trafford.
Leverkusen and United agreed a deal worth around £1.5million for Fosu-Mensah and the Bundesliga outfit unveiled their new signing on Wednesday afternoon.
The Dutchman could be in line to make his Leverkusen debut against Union Berlin on Friday.
‘Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a technically adept, fast and physically strong defender who can be used both as a right-back and in the centre,’ Leverkusen sporting director Rolfes said.
Former Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Rolfes played a key role in bringing Fosu-Mensah to the club and the Netherlands international lifted the lid on their discussions prior to the move.
‘In the last few days I’ve talked a lot with the coach, and conversations with Simon Rolfes and Rudi Voller have convinced me that there are great prospects in Leverkusen’ Fosu-Mensah said.
‘Both for me personally and for us as a team. That will be really exciting.’
He made a positive impression on loan at Crystal Palace in the 2017/18 campaign before completing a temporary move to Craven Cottage the following season, which is where he sustained a serious ACL injury.
United passed on their best wishes to Fosu-Mensah and thanked him for his service to the club after Leverkusen announced the signing.
‘Goodbye and good luck, Timothy — thank you for everything.’
